Security forces in Guyana stated that a boat carrying election officials and ballot boxes was shot at from the Venezuelan shore in the contested Essequibo region.
Police and the Guyanese Defence Force announced that the incident happened on Sunday, just ahead of the country's general election scheduled for Monday.
The patrol escorting the officials responded with gunfire, but fortunately, no injuries were reported.
Despite the attack, which remains unacknowledged by Venezuelan authorities, the election preparations continued, with the ballot boxes safely reaching their designated polling stations.
Venezuela has a long-standing claim to the Essequibo region, an area rich in resources, with this latest incident heightening existing tensions. The region has been governed by Guyana, and previously by British Guiana, for over a century. In December 2023, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro claimed overwhelming support for the territory's return via a controversial referendum, where over 95% of participating citizens opposed Guyana's claim.
Guyana has taken this issue to the International Court of Justice, although Venezuela contests the court's ruling jurisdiction.
As voters head to the polls to select a president and parliament members, current President Irfaan Ali of the People's Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) is seeking re-election against challenges from the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) coalition's Aubrey Norton and independent billionaire candidate Azruddin Mohamed.
Ali's administration faces scrutiny for perceived inequities in the distribution of oil wealth in the nation, which has witnessed a significant economic boom since the discovery of offshore oil reserves.
The election's outcome is seen as pivotal in determining not just leadership but also the future dynamics of Guyana's political landscape, historically divided along ethnic lines.
Ballots for the elections close at 18:00 local time (22:00 GMT).
