A report published by UN experts on Tuesday accused Nicaragua's state institutions of carrying out enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detention of political opponents, conduct that amounts to crimes against humanity. The report detailed a systematic campaign to identify, monitor, and imprison critics, coordinated under a chain of command extending to senior levels of government. This campaign has been ongoing since a wave of protests in April 2018 against the government of President Daniel Ortega.
The UN experts, who were asked to investigate human rights in Nicaragua, documented imprisonment, torture, and persecution on political grounds as part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians. They verified 161 cases of enforced disappearance since April 2018, ranging from a few days to several years. The report also identified eight cases of people who died in state custody, and female detainees were subjected to gender-based abuse and humiliation, including threats of sexual violence.
President Daniel Ortega, the co-president of Nicaragua, has been in power for nearly two decades, making him the longest-serving leader in the Americas. His wife and former vice president, Rosario Murillo, is co-president. In July, Ortega said the country would no longer hold elections to prevent the opposition from "seizing the government" again. This move underscored the report's findings on the systematic dismantling of rights and freedoms.
The report highlighted that Nicaragua's use of arbitrary detention and unfair trials was part of an effort to silence opponents following the 2018 protests. A violent crackdown on protesters left more than 300 dead and triggered a mass exodus of Nicaraguans. Since 2023, authorities have shifted toward the use of long-term enforced disappearances and nationwide police raids aimed at eliminating remaining pockets of dissent.
The UN experts urged Nicaragua's government to end the practice of enforced disappearances and to release information on the whereabouts of missing persons. They also called for the government to hold free and fair elections, and to respect the rights and freedoms of its citizens. The permanent diplomatic mission of Nicaragua in Geneva did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
In September, Nicaragua's Congress passed a constitutional reform that would ban opposition parties from participating in elections, a move that has drawn criticism from the US and other countries in the region. This move has been seen as a further attempt to consolidate power and eliminate opposition. The report's findings have also been criticized by human rights groups, who have called for greater international pressure on the Nicaraguan government.
The report's authors emphasized that the systematic campaign of repression and violence against civilians in Nicaragua constitutes crimes against humanity. They called on the international community to take action to hold the Nicaraguan government accountable for its actions. The situation in Nicaragua remains a pressing concern for human rights groups and the international community.
Key points
- Nicaragua's state institutions carried out enforced disappearances, torture, and arbitrary detention of political opponents.
- The UN experts verified 161 cases of enforced disappearance since April 2018.
- The report's findings have been criticized by human rights groups, who have called for greater international pressure on the Nicaraguan government.
