In Nicaragua, the regime has announced the cancellation of legal status for 15 new NGOs, bringing the total number of banned organizations to over 3,600 since December 2018. This was revealed by Maria Amelia Coronel, the Minister of the Interior of the Sandinista dictatorship in Managua, as per two ministerial agreements published in Nicaragua’s official newspaper, La Gaceta.
The Ministry stated that nine NGOs were closed for not complying with regulations and six others voluntarily requested dissolution. Among those canceled were the National Chamber of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Association of Small Hotel Owners of Nicaragua, and evangelical Christian entities. The Ministry also outlined that assets will be transferred to the Nicaraguan State except for those that requested voluntary dissolution.
Since April 2018 protests against Ortega’s government, more than 3,600 NGOs have been dissolved in Nicaragua. Some regime supporters accused these organizations of trying to overthrow Ortega during demonstrations. However, according to the regime, illegalization is part of a regulation process due to a large number of registered NGOs in 2018.
Nicaragua has been embroiled in a political and social crisis since April 2018. The controversy escalated after Ortega’s re-election in controversial 2021 elections where his opponents were either imprisoned or in exile. His wife Rosario Murillo serves as vice president.
