GDF patrol comes under fire again along Cuyuni River

The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) has confirmed that one of its patrols came under hostile fire on Tuesday afternoon while conducting border security operations along the Cuyuni River in Region Seven.

In a statement, the GDF said the patrol, escorting civilian vessels, was engaged in two separate incidents at approximately 16:10 hrs and 16:50 hrs at known locations along the river. On both occasions, ranks responded in keeping with operational procedures and successfully manoeuvred out of the area without any injuries.

The military emphasized that it continues to maintain a sustained operational presence along Guyana’s western border and remains committed to safeguarding the country’s territorial integrity and protecting border communities.

The latest encounters come just one day after a more serious incident in the same region, where a GDF patrol came under gunfire near Black Water while escorting civilian boats from Makapa to Eteringbang. During that attack, a soldier sustained two gunshot wounds to the leg and was later evacuated to Georgetown for medical treatment.

That incident coincided with the start of oral hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the long-running border controversy between Guyana and Venezuela over the Essequibo region.

Authorities have not identified the attackers in either incident. However, similar attacks along the Cuyuni River in the past have been linked to armed groups operating from the Venezuelan side of the border.

Despite the ongoing tensions, the GDF reiterated its commitment to continued patrols and security operations in the area, underscoring its role in defending Guyana’s sovereignty and ensuring the safety of civilians operating along the border.