GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC) — The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to begin oral hearings on May 4 in the long-running border dispute between Guyana and Venezuela, marking a pivotal phase in one of the country’s most consequential legal battles.

The country’s Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Mohabir Anil Nandlall, said during his weekly programme, Issues in the News, that hearings are scheduled for May 4–8 and may extend into the following week.

The proceedings represent a critical step in Guyana’s effort to secure a final, peaceful and binding resolution to the decades-old controversy over the Essequibo region, which accounts for more than two-thirds of its territory.

Guyana brought the case before the ICJ in 2018, seeking affirmation that the 1899 Arbitral Award, establishing the boundary between the two countries, is legally valid. The award had been accepted for over 60 years before Venezuela declared it null in 1962 and revived its claim to the territory.

The matter is being addressed under the 1966 Geneva Agreement, which outlines mechanisms for a peaceful settlement. After bilateral efforts failed, the dispute was referred to the ICJ by the United Nations Secretary-General.

The court has already ruled that it has jurisdiction to hear the case, paving the way for hearings on the merits, during which both sides will present full legal arguments.

While Guyana maintains that the judicial process is the only legitimate avenue for resolving the dispute, Venezuela has historically challenged the court’s authority, though it has participated in filing written submissions.

The upcoming hearings will follow the completion of written pleadings in 2025, with a final ruling expected to be binding on both countries and to bring legal clarity to the long-standing controversy.