Nicaragua: Anti-government protests continue /update 7

Event

Anti-government protests continued in the capital Managua for the eighth consecutive day on Wednesday, April 25. Protesters marched from the campus of the Universidad Centroamericana (UCA), to the Managua Central Judicial Complex and back again to the UCA to demand the release of individuals arrested during previous protests. A second protest was held at the Jean Paul Genie rotunda to commemorate the 38 people believed to have been killed in protests held over the previous week. Both gatherings occurred without incident.

Further such gatherings are to be anticipated in the coming days in cities across the country. New outbreaks of violence cannot be ruled out.

Context

Conditions in Nicaragua have been slowly normalizing after a week of daily anti-government protests, many of which were marred by sometimes deadly violence. Schools have reopened along with many stores and business that had closed their doors amid the violence and associated looting. The protests began on April 18 and intensified over the weekend of April 20-22, leading to deadly clashes, looting, and other violence throughout the country, as well as a crackdown by security forces. Although the number varies between sources, dozens of people have been killed and more than 400 others have been wounded; additionally, 200 people have reportedly been arrested and 65 more reported missing. It is the most significant unrest experienced by the country since the end of the civil war in 1990.

The intensity of the protests has subsided since April 22, when Ortega announced his decision to rescind the highly controversial reforms to the country's social security system (INSS) that first sparked the protest movement. However, students and other groups have vowed to continue holding protests in Nicaragua until President Daniel Ortega and his wife/Vice President Rosario Murillo leave office.

Advice

Individuals in Nicaragua are advised to keep abreast of the situation, strictly avoid all protests due to the risk of violence and arrest, and adhere to any advice issued by their home governments.