The Nicaraguan regime has announced the cancellation of legal status for 15 new NGOs, bringing the total number of banned organizations in the country to over 3,600 since December 2018. This move by the Sandinista dictatorship, led by Minister of the Interior María Amelia Coronel, has been met with criticism from human rights groups and political opposition.
The Ministry of the Interior stated that nine NGOs were closed for not complying with regulations, while six others requested voluntary dissolution. Among the organizations canceled were the National Chamber of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, the Association of Small Hotel Owners of Nicaragua, the Association of Airlines, and evangelical Christian entities.
The closure of these 15 NGOs adds to the more than 3,600 organizations that have been dissolved following protests against the regime that began in April 2018. Some politicians supporting the dictatorship accused these NGOs of using resources to try to overthrow Ortega during demonstrations. However, many argue that these organizations were simply providing services to communities in need and had no involvement in political activities.
The regime claims that the illegalization of these organizations is part of a regularization process, as not all registered NGOs in 2018 were operational. However, critics argue that this process is being used as a tool to silence opposition and restrict civil society’s ability to advocate for human rights and democratic change.
Nicaragua has been in a political and social crisis since April 2018, with tensions escalating after the controversial elections in November 2021. The ongoing crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression only serves to further undermine democracy and violate basic human rights in Nicaragua.