The government of Nicaragua, led by President Daniel Ortega, has recently outlawed 1,500 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in a crackdown on civil society groups deemed hostile to the government. The move, which was published in the official government gazette, also includes the confiscation of assets belonging to these organizations, most of which are religious groups. The Nicaraguan Red Cross, Catholic charities, rotary and chess clubs, sports associations, small traders, rural people, and pensioners are among the targets of this crackdown. Many of these groups have been hit with charges that are considered spurious, and the government claims they have not fulfilled their financial obligations, including disclosing donation information.
President Ortega’s crackdown on civil society groups and the Catholic Church has intensified since anti-government protests erupted in 2018. The government has now shut down over 5,000 civil society groups, private universities, and media outlets. In addition, a recent regulation requires NGOs to work exclusively in partnership alliances with state entities, further limiting their independence. Last year, more than 300 politicians, journalists, intellectuals, and activists were expelled from Nicaragua, accused of treason. Al Jazeera has also been banned from the country, forcing them to report from outside Nicaragua. The government’s actions have led to a significant number of people fleeing to neighbouring countries like Costa Rica due to the suppression of human rights.
Daniel Ortega first came to power in Nicaragua as the head of a military government in 1979, following his role in the Sandinista movement that overthrew the Somoza family dictatorship. He was elected as president in 1985, but was defeated in elections in 1990. Ortega returned to power in 2007 and has since eliminated presidential term limits, consolidating control over all branches of the state. While facing sanctions from the US and EU, Ortega’s regime continues to suppress human rights within the country. Last month, a group of UN experts criticized the systematic and widespread abuses of international human rights law in Nicaragua. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has also called for an end to rights abuses in Nicaragua, highlighting religious persecution, arbitrary detentions, and poor conditions in prisons.
The crackdown on civil society groups and NGOs in Nicaragua has left a significant impact on dissent within the country. With the closure of numerous organizations, including the Nicaraguan Red Cross, Catholic charities, and various community associations, the space for independent and critical voices has been severely restricted. The government’s regulation requiring NGOs to work in partnership alliances with state entities further limits their ability to operate independently. The expulsion of politicians, journalists, intellectuals, and activists has also contributed to a climate of fear and repression, prompting many to flee the country in search of safety.
The suppression of human rights in Nicaragua has prompted widespread condemnation from international bodies and human rights organizations. The UN experts have highlighted the systematic abuses of international human rights law in the country, calling for an end to these violations. The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights has also called for an end to religious persecution, arbitrary detentions, and poor conditions in prisons. Despite facing sanctions from the US and EU, Ortega’s government continues to exert control over all aspects of society, quashing dissent and undermining the fundamental rights of the Nicaraguan people.
As the situation in Nicaragua continues to deteriorate, with the government cracking down on civil society groups, NGOs, and independent voices, the outlook for human rights and democracy in the country remains bleak. The closure of thousands of organizations and the expulsion of critical voices have created a climate of fear and repression, prompting many to flee the country in search of safety. International condemnation and calls for an end to rights abuses have so far gone unheeded by the Ortega government, which remains entrenched in power and determined to suppress dissent at all costs.
