27/03 • NICARAGUA

Daniel Ortega has been the President of Nicaragua since 2007, following a previous term in the 1980's as the leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN). His administration, alongside his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo, has been marked by increasing authoritarianism, suppression of dissent, and the consolidation of power.

In August 2024, the Nicaraguan government banned 1,500 non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including several religious groups. This move is part of a broader effort that has led to the closure of over 5,000 civil society organisations since 2018. Authorities claim that these organisations have failed to comply with financial disclosure requirements, but critics argue that this is an attempt to silence dissent and consolidate power. 

The Catholic Church has been a particular target of government repression. Priests have faced increased surveillance, detentions, and restrictions on their religious activities. During the Lenten season, clergy were instructed to moderate their sermons, avoid processions, and refrain from praying for the nation, under threat of imprisonment or exile. These measures are part of a broader strategy to exert control over religious institutions. 

In November 2024, the Nicaraguan legislature approved constitutional reforms that extended the presidential term from five to six years and designated Vice President Rosario Murillo as co-president. Murillo plays a significant role in government decision-making, media control, and policy enforcement.  

The culmination of these reductions in civic spaces and access to independent information has had huge repercussions for marginalised people.

Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities have faced escalating violence, land seizures, and targeted attacks, while leaders advocating for their rights endure persecution. The government has forcibly exiled and stripped 88 people of their nationality, leaving them stateless, confiscating their property, and restricting their access to official documents. Academic freedom has also been severely undermined, with 37 universities closed and tighter government control imposed on educational institutions.

Critics of the regime risk threats, arbitrary detention, and forced exile, deepening the climate of fear and repression.