Ankoko Island facts for kids
Ankoko Island (also called Isla de Anacoco in Spanish) is a small island. It is located where the Cuyuni River and Wenamu River meet. This spot is right on the border between Venezuela and a debated area called Guayana Esequiba.
Venezuela says that Guayana Esequiba is part of its land. In 1966, Venezuela set up an army base on Ankoko Island. Guyana sees this as an invasion and an attack on land that was not being argued over.
History
Venezuelan occupation
In February 1966, the governments of Venezuela, the United Kingdom, and Guyana signed an agreement. It was called the Geneva Agreement. This agreement was meant to help solve the argument about the Guayana Esequiba land.
Five months after Guyana became independent from the United Kingdom, Venezuelan soldiers took control of Ankoko Island. This happened in October 1966. The Venezuelan troops quickly built army buildings and a small airport there.
On October 14, 1966, Forbes Burnham was the Prime Minister of Guyana. He sent a strong complaint to Venezuela's Foreign Minister, Ignacio Iribarren Borges. He asked for the Venezuelan soldiers and their buildings to be removed right away. The Venezuelan minister replied, saying that Anacoco Island was completely Venezuelan land. He stated that Venezuela had always owned it. The island is still controlled by Venezuela today. A Venezuelan airport and an army base operate there.
Recent history
During a time of political trouble in Venezuela, called the Venezuelan presidential crisis, the interim president Juan Guaidó and the National Assembly of Venezuela brought up the land arguments again. They visited the island to show that Venezuela still claimed the area.
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Caño "Brazo Negro" is a small channel that comes from the main Cuyuní River. It goes north and helps form Ankoko Island (seen in the background).
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This is the entrance to the Venezuelan army's military post on Ankoko Island. You can reach it through the Caño "Brazo Negro."
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A view of the Venezuelan military post on Ankoko Island.
See also
In Spanish: Isla de Anacoco para niños
