International Court of Justice Hears Venezuela's Claim Over Disputed Guyana Territory
Venezuela has presented its case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), arguing that the mineral-rich Essequibo region of Guyana was 'fraudulently' taken during the colonial era. The dispute dates back to an 1899 arbitration decision that favored Guyana, which Venezuela claims was manipulated by American and European arbitrators. Venezuela insists that a 1966 agreement, rather than the ICJ, should determine the rightful ownership of the territory. The hearings, which involve both Venezuela and Guyana, are set to continue for a week. Venezuela's representative, Samuel Reinaldo Moncada Acosta, argued that the 1966 Geneva Agreement nullified the earlier arbitration and should guide the resolution of the dispute. Guyana, on the other hand, maintains that the ICJ has jurisdiction and that the dispute has hindered its sovereignty since its inception. 
