A team of human rights experts appointed by the United Nations has accused Nicaragua’s government of committing egregious human rights violations, labeling them as “crimes against humanity.”
The report specifically targets President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, demanding international accountability for the widespread abuses documented.
The experts assert that the Nicaraguan government, led by Ortega, is systematically perpetrating severe human rights violations for political motives, constituting crimes against humanity. Despite the damning findings, the Nicaraguan government has not yet responded to the report’s allegations.
Nicaragua has faced scrutiny from international bodies such as the UN and the Organization of American States, which the government dismisses as part of an alleged campaign against it.
However, the UN-appointed group, tasked with investigating human rights abuses since Nicaragua’s 2018 political crisis, has consistently reported acts of torture, extrajudicial executions, and arbitrary detention by the government.
The experts emphasize a pervasive climate of violence and persecution targeting political opposition, both domestically and internationally. While the report calls for an international investigation into Ortega and Murillo’s alleged abuses, it does not implicate the army in these crimes.
Furthermore, the report highlights the staggering human cost of the crisis, with over 935,000 Nicaraguans fleeing the country since 2018, and widespread political persecution resulting in the stripping of nationality from more than 300 individuals in 2023 alone.
