Over 3,600 NGOs Banned: Nicaraguan Government’s Crackdown on Opposition Groups intensifies Amid Protest Unrest

In a move to crack down on opposition, the Nicaraguan government has dissolved 15 more non-governmental organizations (NGOs), bringing the total number of banned groups to over 3,600 since December 2018. The Minister of the Interior of the Sandinista dictatorship, María Amelia Coronel, approved the closure of these organizations in Managua.

Nine NGOs were closed for not complying with regulations, while six others requested voluntary dissolution. Among those shut down were key business associations such as the National Chamber of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, as well as evangelical Christian entities.

The liquidation of assets from these NGOs will be overseen by the Attorney General’s Office. However, those organizations that requested voluntary dissolution will have their assets returned to them. This move comes after protests against the regime began in April 2018 and continue to this day.

Some politicians supporting the dictatorship accused these NGOs of using resources to try and overthrow Ortega during demonstrations. The regime claims that the illegalization of these groups is part of a regularization process, as not all registered NGOs in 2018 were operational. Nicaragua has been in political and social crisis since April 2018, with tensions escalating after controversial elections in November 2021.