GDF soldier shot on border with Venezuela

Last Updated on Monday, 4 May 2026, 22:04 by Writer

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) says a soldier was shot and injured on Monday morning while on a patrol escort on the Guyana-Venezuela border.

He was shot twice to his right leg and has since been stabilised for evacuation to the capital Georgetown for further medical attention, the GDF said in a statement.

The GDF remained silent on whether those who opened fire were Venezuelan security personnel or civilians.

But a senior military officer would only say that he believed Venezuelan authorities are aware of those involved.

“We are being attacked from the Venezuelan side of the Cuyuni by a group who uses the jungle as cover from sight and fire. The Venezuelan authorities cannot be unaware of this situation,” the officer said.

The GDF said the incident occurred at about 11:30 am as its boat patrol was escorting three civilian boats transporting personnel and cargo from Makapa to Eteringbang came under fire in the vicinity of Black Water.

“The patrol returned fire and manoeuvred the convoy out of the area,” the defence force added.

The GDF says it continues to maintain an active operational presence along the western border. “The Force remains fully committed to the protection of its personnel and the safeguarding of Guyana’s territorial integrity.”

In the past, Guyanese soldiers were shot at in that area.

Monday’s incident occurred as the International Court of Justice began hearings into the merits of the validity of the 1899 Arbitral Tribunal Award that settled the land boundary between Guyana and Venezuela.