MEXICO CITY — Nicaraguan authorities have effectively dismantled the nation’s last remaining mechanisms of oversight, systematically pursuing a strategy to consolidate complete control through severe human rights abuses, a United Nations panel of experts reported on Wednesday.
The latest report by human rights experts delivers a strong criticism of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo, who now holds the title of co-president. For several years, their administration has aggressively suppressed dissent and stifled civil society.
The aggressive measures began in response to the government’s violent suppression of protests in 2018. Following those events, experts claim the Nicaraguan government “deliberately pivoted the country towards authoritarian rule,” leading to tens of thousands of residents being driven into exile.
Jan Simon, chairperson of the U.N. Group of Experts, described the fusion of the state and the ruling Sandinista party as a unified repressive apparatus that impacts both domestic and international spheres. He noted that “Ortega and Murillo manage a comprehensive surveillance operation, meticulously identifying targets for rights violations, essentially serving as ‘the eyes and ears’ enabling the government to maintain complete control over the populace.”
No comments were immediately available from the Nicaraguan government in response to these allegations.
According to the experts, the final blow to the country’s democratic structure occurred last month when a constitutional amendment, approved by a Sandinista-dominated congress, came into effect. The reform, active from February 18, places all governmental branches under presidential authority and designated Ortega and Murillo as “co-presidents,” ensuring a clear line of succession in their family.
This amendment also extended the presidential term from five to six years, further entrenching the family’s dominance over the nation.
The UN experts highlighted that beyond governmental control, the regime has increased its use of arbitrary detentions, enforced expulsions, property confiscations, and the removal of Nicaraguan citizenship from political adversaries.
The panel has prepared a list of individuals deemed culpable for ongoing repression, intending to share it with the Nicaraguan authorities and release it publicly via the UN Human Rights Council. They also called upon the international community to pursue legal measures, expand targeted sanctions against these individuals, and enhance protection for Nicaraguan exiles.
