Crisis Chronology | Nicaragua

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NICARAGUA

04/05/2023

After criticism of it by the Catholic Church, the government expels a priest and bans some celebrations of Holy Week.

10/24/2022

US sanctions Nicaragua gold industry in response to its continuing anti-democratic directives.

05/06/2022

News reports that Laureano Ortega, Daniel Ortega’s son and thought to be the heir apparent, has contacted the US, probably about easing sanctions on the Ortega family. Because of the war in Ukraine, Russian cannot trade with Nicaragua, and Venezuela will no longer aid the country. The government is running out of money to pay the paramilitary forces that support it and to expand the police force to suppress growing dissent.

04/25/2022

Nicaragua completes its withdrawal from the OAS, despite the OAS rule that a year is required for withdrawal. The government began withdrawing after the organization criticized the election in November.

03/21/2022

Christiana Chamorro found guilty of financial crimes and sentenced to eight years in prison.

02/11/2022

Court sentences seven opposition figures, including Tellez and Aleman, to long prison terms.

02/05/2022

Dora Maria Tellez, a former rebel who fought alongside Ortega and served in his government before becoming leader of the opposition Sandinista Renovation Movement, and student leader Lesther Aleman are found guilty of conspiracy against the government.

12/10/2021

Nicaragua ends diplomatic relationship with Taiwan.

11/07/2021

Ortega reelected

General election begins and Ortega is quickly announced the winner. The government has effectively sidelined all opposition. The opposition has called on voters to stay home as a protest.

08/11/2021

Spain recalls its ambassador to Nicaragua after Ortega accuses Spain of meddling in Nicaraguan affairs.

08/09/2021

Nicaragua recalls its ambassadors to Argentina, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico for “consultations,” after these countries recall their ambassadors following the anti-democratic behavior of the Nicaraguan government.

08/06/2021

Election commission disqualifies the Citizens for Liberty party because its leaders, presidential candidate Oscar Sobalvarro and vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada, have dual US and Nicaraguan citizenship, among other alleged violations.

08/04/2021

Police put vice-presidential candidate Berenice Quezada of Citizens for Liberty (CXL) party under house arrest.

07/06/2021

Six more opposition figures are arrested under the treason law that Ortega has been using to quash the opposition.

06/16/2021

Prominent banker is arrested on charges of promoting economic blockades against Nicaragua.

06/14/2021

Five more opposition politicians have been arrested in the past two days.

06/09/2021

A number of arrests of opposition figures leaves Ortega essentially unopposed for the election in 11/21. A law passed in late 2020 allows the government to arrest anyone of subversion without evidence.

06/02/2021

Cristiana Chamorro, daughter of former president Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, is held in house arrest.

04/16/2020

Ortega appears in public to defend the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

04/14/2020

Concern growing over the public absence of Daniel Ortega, who has not been seen since 3/12. His wife, Vice-president Rosario Murillo, has taken over most of his duties, including the response of COVID-19, which has been minimal. The government has reported only one death, but its figures are widely questioned and there has been minimal testing. More people have been arrested for violating quarantine than have contracted the virus.

03/18/2020

Nicaragua confirms its first case of COVID-19.

04/25/2019

Opposition Civic Alliance continues boycott of national reconciliation talks.

03/20/2019

Government agrees to free all political prisoners incarcerated since last April. The agreement, mediated by the OAS, also calls for EU and US sanctions to be lifted.

03/11/2019

Opposition Civil Alliance walks out of talks with government, demanding release of all political prisoners and an end to repression.

01/10/2019

Supreme Court justice Rafael Solis resigns in protest over brutal governing of Ortega and his wife, whom he had long supported in his rulings.

11/27/2018

US sanctions Vice-President Rosario Murillo, Pres Ortega’s wife, and the national security officer for human rights abuses against protestors.

08/29/2018

UN accuses Nicaragua of widespread human rights violations during recent protests. Nicaragua rebuts the accusation.

08/25/2018

Some Costa Ricans march in support of Nicaragua opposition. Many Nicaraguans are seeking asylum in Costa Rica.

08/03/2018

Government arresting student protestors under a new anti-terrorism law.

08/03/2018

Government arresting student protestors under a new anti-terrorism law.

07/31/2018

UN says that thousands have fled Nicaragua and applied for asylum in Costa Rica.

07/23/2018

Ortega again refuses to step down or to take responsibility for the violence.

07/18/2018

Government says it has regained control of protest stronghold Masaya.

07/17/2018

UN Human right spokesman calls on Nicaraguan government to halt violence against protestors and to open prisons to monitors.

07/15/2018

Security forces move into anti-government positions in opposition stronghold Masaya, south of Managua. At least ten are dead, including some riot police, according to human rights observers. Overall death toll said to be 280.

07/13/2018

Protestors taking refuge in a church in Managua are attacked by police, with at least one killed.

07/07/2018

At least fourteen more protestors are killed by government troops, and Ortega rejects calls for early elections.

07/06/2018

US sanctions three high officials in Nicaragua for involvement in human rights violations and corruption.

06/01/2018

Violence intensifies around protests as paramilitary pro-government groups attack demonstrators.

05/31/2018

As violent protests continue, with five killed on 5/30, Ortega calls for peace and discussions. He refuses to resign.

04/23/2018

Protests continue.

04/22/2018

After days of protests, government cancels reforms to pension system. At least ten people were killed in the protests.

04/18/2018

Widespread protests against government

Protests break out when government announces changes to the pension system that require larger contributions by workers, but also reduce benefits. However, the protests sprung from long-simmering dissatisfaction with the government over its increasing control of the political processes in the country and corruption.

11/06/2017

Sandinistas overwhelmingly win local elections in Nicaragua.

11/06/2016

Ortega re-elected

Ortega easily wins third term with 72% of the vote. His wife Rosario Murillo is elected vice-president. Maximino Rodriguez of the opposition Liberal Constitutionalist Party wins 14%.

10/10/2016

Increasing friction between indigenous Miskito peoples on Nicaragua’s Caribbean coast and settlers who have come there looking for gold or work in the timber industry. Others have lost their land because of drought. Some of the Miskito have been murdered. The Miskitos also oppose the Sandinista government because of wartime atrocities.