Guyana Sets Election Date; Territorial Dispute With Venezuela Top of Agenda

The president vowed to defend his country’s territory amid the dispute with Caracas over the Essequibo region.

Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio (R) speaks during a press conference in Georgetown, Guyana, March 27, 2025. Nathan Howard/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Guyanese President Mohamed Irfaan Ali on May 25 announced the date for the next elections and said he would defend his country’s territory amid the dispute with Caracas, Venezuela, over the Essequibo region.

“This evening, I announced General and Regional Elections in Guyana will be held on September 1, 2025,” the Guyanese president wrote on the social media platform X.