The situation in Nicaragua has drawn urgent attention from UN experts, who warn of a deepening dictatorship under President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo. The government has systematically dismantled democratic institutions, consolidating power and perpetrating widespread human rights violations. The UN Group of Human Rights Experts highlights a disturbing pattern of political repression, forced exile, and economic retaliation against dissenters.
Since the violent crackdown on protests in 2018, the Ortega-Murillo regime has tightened its grip through surveillance and intimidation, creating an environment where opposition voices are severely threatened. The recent constitutional reform further erodes democratic oversight, merging authority into a singular ruling entity that undermines the judicial and legislative branches.
The report indicates grave actions taken by the Nicaraguan army in suppressing dissent, revealing their involvement in violent measures against civilians. As the regime escalates arbitrary detentions and property confiscations, the international community faces a pressing call to respond to these alarming developments in Nicaragua.
The UN report underscores several critical aspects of Nicaragua’s deepening dictatorship, detailing how the Ortega-Murillo regime has eliminated democratic structures and engaged in widespread human rights violations. The following points provide a detailed examination of these alarming developments.
The report reveals the consolidation of power under President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, symbolized by a recent constitutional reform. This reform has established an executive framework of “co-presidents,” effectively merging the state with the ruling Sandinista party.
As a result, the roles of the judicial, legislative, and electoral branches have been diminished, reducing them to tools for enforcing the executive’s will. Critics argue that this shift has effectively nullified any remaining checks on Ortega’s authority, placing Nicaragua firmly on the path to authoritarianism.