Introduction
Regional elections in Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast highlight political repression
On 3rd March 2024, regional elections in Nicaragua’s Autonomous Caribbean Coast were marked by irregularities, under the control of an Electoral Supreme Council (CSE) aligned with the ruling party. Historically, regional elections have included both national and local political parties, but this election was the first in which no indigenous party appeared on the ballot, reflecting a significant shift in the political landscape. The government claimed 48.49 per cent voter turnout and victory for the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN), but civil society estimated only 13.28 per cent participation, with no international oversight.
As previously reported by the CIVICUS Monitor, the right to participate in public affairs has been severely curtailed as the CSE arbitrarily stripped YATAMA of its legal status based on an alleged violation of Law No. 1055. Additionally, in September and October 2023, two YATAMA deputies to the National Assembly, Brooklyn Rivera and Nancy Henríquez, were arbitrarily detained.
The Caribbean Coast Autonomous region is rich in natural resources. Since the FSLN returned to power in 2007, the government has intensified its neo-extractive economic model, expanding mining concessions. This extractive push has led to violent invasions of Indigenous and Afro-descendent territories. According to civil society organisations, the government’s inaction and holding of regional elections are part of its strategy to tighten control over the region’s natural resources and political activity and further suppress the civic space.
Expression
Arbitrary detentions and raids against journalists
On 12th July 2024, journalist Fabiola Tercero Castro disappeared after seven police officers raided her house in Managua. Since then, no one has been able to contact her. During the raid, authorities seized Fabiola’s personal computer along with other work materials. Since 12th July, the Association of Independent Journalists and Communicators of Nicaragua (PCIN) has sought information about her whereabouts, but their efforts have been unsuccessful. There is no information regarding her health or location at the time of writing.
The Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED) reported that Fabiola had been targeted previously. Following her criticism of the government in 2017, Fabiola has been required to report daily to the local police station as part of her house arrest.
FLED further noted that Fabiola’s case is not an isolated incident. On the contrary, systematic violence and harassment against independent press in the country have forced at least 263 journalists into exile since 2018. This has led to the creation of “zones of silence,” where the public’s right to access information is severely restricted, affecting entire regions of Nicaragua.
Several press freedom organisations have condemned the situation, including the freedom of expression network Voces del Sur: “We express deep concern over the escalating violence, censorship, and harassment by police authorities and paramilitary groups against journalists both inside and outside of Nicaragua. A new wave of journalists is being forced into exile to safeguard their lives and well-being as a result of the abusive use of state power.”
In a separate incident, on 19th May 2024, the National Police raided the home of journalist Orlando Chávez Esquivel in León. Chávez Esquivel, director of El Metropolitano, a news programme on Radio La Cariñosa, recently participated in the presentation of The Warlocks and Their Wonders (Los Brujos y sus prodigios), a book by journalist and academic Guillermo Rothschuh. Media reports suggested the raid was in retaliation for his involvement in the event. During the raid, police detained his brothers, Obed and Merary Chávez Esquivel, after they resisted the authorities.
Just days earlier, on 16th May, Rothschuh announced via Facebook that the National Police had cancelled the presentation of his book in Juigalpa. Additionally, on the same weekend, police raided and arbitrarily detained teacher and writer Pedro Alfonso Morales Ruiz in Telica. The Nicaragua Never Again Collective confirmed that Morales Ruiz’s detention, like Chávez Esquivel’s, followed his participation in the book presentation in León.
El @ColectivoNunca condena las recientes detenciones arbitrarias llevadas a cabo por la policía del régimen de Daniel Ortega y Rosario Murillo. 1/9 pic.twitter.com/rU2cLTBaXj
— Colectivo Nicaragua Nunca Más (@ColectivoNunca) May 20, 2024
In response, on 23rd July, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) expressed concern over the increasing repression faced by journalists and independent media in Nicaragua throughout 2024. Nicaraguan journalists have been subjected to various forms of pressure, including police harassment, arbitrary detentions, excessive application of criminal law and forced exile. Moreover, legal actions have been taken to cancel the legal status of independent media outlets.
At least 26 journalists were forced into exile during the first half of 2024 for security reasons, according to the IACHR. Exiled journalists are facing transnational repression tactics, including online attacks, and their families in Nicaragua have faced arbitrary detentions, surveillance and intimidation by law enforcement authorities.
#Nicaragua 🇳🇮 La @RELE_CIDH recibe con preocupación reportes públicos sobre la desaparición de la periodista Fabiola Tercero, de quien se desconoce su paradero desde el #12JUL, tras un allanamiento policial a su residencia. La RELE continuará monitoreando de cerca el caso.
— Relatoría Especial p/la Libertad Expresión (CIDH) (@RELE_CIDH) July 20, 2024
Revocation of Radio María’s legal personality
On 9th July 2024, the Ministry of the Interior of Nicaragua revoked the legal status of Radio María, along with 11 other civil society organisations. According to the Ministry of the Interior, the decision to permanently shut down Radio María, which had operated in Nicaragua since 1984, was based on alleged non-compliance with administrative obligations regulated in Law No. 1115. The ministry cited the radio’s failure to submit financial reports for 2019 through 2023 and the expiration of its board of directors’ mandate since November 2021.
This incident comes amid escalating tensions between the government of President Daniel Ortega and the Catholic Church, marking a continuation of strained relations and broader efforts to control civil society. For instance, in March 2024, at least 4,800 religious processions and activities were documented, with eight reported detentions.
The UN Group of Human Rights Experts in Nicaragua has documented a continuing pattern of closures of religious media outlets (A/HRC/55/CRP.5). Since 2021, at least 18 religious media outlets were shut down, including four television channels (three Catholic and one Evangelical) and 14 radio stations (10 Catholic and four Evangelical). Most of these closures occurred in 2022.
Restriction on political expression in public performances
On 12th March 2024, the Ministry of the Interior of Nicaragua issued Ministerial Agreement 05-2024, introducing regulations to authorise, control and monitor all public artistic activities, events and spectacles within the country. This agreement applies to national and foreign people and legal entities producing, promoting and organising public performances (Article 1).
The regulation requires organisers to register with the Ministry of the Interior and comply with specific provisions regarding event management (Article 7). The Ministry has the authority to approve or deny any artistic event or public spectacle based on its own criteria, which remain undefined in the Agreement (Article 8).
Additionally, organisers must notify the Ministry 30 days before any scheduled event, providing key details such as the anticipated audience size and the equipment to be used (Article 10). The regulation prohibits any topics related to internal or external politics, or activities perceived as political proselytism. Non-compliance may result in sanctions, though these are not specified in the Agreement (Article 13).
The introduction of this regulation imposes new restrictions on freedom of expression by banning political expression at concerts and other public gatherings. It also enables arbitrary control over artistic expression, further limiting public speech.
In April 2022, the Nicaraguan government escalated its repression of musicians critical of the regime, particularly targeting young, alternative artists who had been protesting police violence and human rights violations through their music since 2018. Many were arrested, exiled, or deported, while bar owners were informed that concerts by specific bands were banned, forcing numerous musicians to flee the country.
Association
Widespread use of arbitrary detentions to suppress opposition
Reports from civil society organisations indicated a rise in the arbitrary detention of people perceived as opponents of the Government of Nicaragua over the past year. Documented cases increased from 78 in July 2023 to 151 by July 2024, involving 126 men and 25 women.
These detentions often occurred without warrants or formal notification of charges. “The government's actions have resulted in a profound denial of the rule of law, with the entire judicial system being used to target real or perceived opponents,” stated Nada Al Nashif, Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
While many detainees were released after a few hours, they were frequently required to report to local police stations daily, and in some instances, twice a day. Between May 2023 and May 2024, organisations documented 59 men and 41 women being subjected to this form of arbitrary police control.