Topic: 2024-The Situation in Guyana
Country: France
Delegate Name: Molly O’Donnell
Great Lakes Invitational Model United Nations Conference 2024
Delegation: France
Committee: Special Political and Decolonization
Topic: The Situation In Guyana
The current situation in Guyana revolves around a border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela concerning the specific region lying between the Essequibo River. (Kumar) This issue emerged in 1966 when Guyana gained independence which brought into question where the border would lie. After dialogues between Venezuela, Guyana and the United Kingdom it was decided that the border would remain where it was with the Essequibo region in Guyana. This agreement held until 2015 when it was discovered that the Essequibo region was rich in natural oil bringing a huge economic factor into the discussion. Shortly after the oil was found, Venezuela annexed the region and claimed the original borders to be null and void. This annexation led to high tensions between the two sides, though there has not been any armed conflict and dialogues to prevent one are underway, both have greatly increased military presence along this new border. (Guyana)A meeting to discuss these factors of the issue went unattended by both parties, extinguishing hope of a peaceful solution. Many neighboring countries as well as members of the Security Council are aware of the drastic effects a war would have on both Guyana and Venezuela. Both countries have a history of struggling with their economies, as well as a large refugee population, which concerns many citizens of both parties. (Guyana)
The Delegation of France became involved shortly after the annexation, and has called upon Venezuela to refrain from any unilateral action. Recently the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs spoke to the President of Guyana about these territorial disputes during which the Minister emphasized France’s commitment to maintaining peace, with the topic of recourse to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). (Ministère) The ICJ has warned Venezuela to “refrain from taking any action which would modify that situation that currently prevails”. (Imternational) Guyana’s initial request for a ban against the annexation of the Essequibo region was denied, however Guyana was welcomed as a non permanent member of the Security Council for the time being. France as well as other members have called upon both parties to fully implement the decisions of the ICJ leaving it up to the court to decide where the border should lie. (UN’s)
To solve this issue without compromising sovereignty, a third party could be added to extract the oil from the Essequibo region and then equally distributed between the two countries. This third party would be a United Nations (UN) organization such as the UN Development Programme (UNDP) which would oversee environmental aspects of the situation and could work alongside the UN Department of Peace Operations which could be facilitated by France due to their past connections. This plan would help create successful dialogues as well as reduce the need of military presence along the borders. By using the UN it would ensure neutrality and help both sides to comply with each other to create a long term solution in which both sides are able to take advantage of this great economic factor.
Works Cited:
“Un’s Top Court Bars Venezuela from Action in Guyana Border Dispute.” Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 1 Dec. 2023, www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2023/12/1/uns-top-court-bars-venezuela-from-action-in-guyana-border-dispute.
Ministère de l’Europe et des Affaires étrangères. “France and Guyana.” France Diplomacy – Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/guyana/france-and-guyana-65062/. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.
“Guyana–Venezuela Land Boundary.” Sovereign Limits, 4 Apr. 2024, sovereignlimits.com/boundaries/guyana-venezuela-land.
“International Court of Justice.” Home | INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE, www.icj-cij.org/home. Accessed 15 Nov. 2024.
Kumar, Vishal. “Guyana River Map: River Map of Guyana.” MapsofWorld.Com, 4 Aug. 2022, www.mapsofworld.com/amp/guyana/river-map.html.
