Nicaragua: Anti-Ortega protests to continue /update 5

Event

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. However, the intensity of the protests has subsided somewhat since April 22, when Ortega announced his decision to rescind the highly controversial reforms to country's social security system (INSS) that first sparked the protest movement on April 18. A large protest held in the capital Managua on Monday remained mostly peaceful.

The mobilization intensified over the weekend of April 21-22, leading to deadly clashes, looting, and other violence throughout the country, as well as a crackdown by security forces who reportedly used live ammunition to disperse crowds. Some 30 people have been killed and more than 400 others have been wounded since the protests began April 18; additionally, 200 people have been arrested and 65 more have been reported missing. The army remains deployed in cities across the country, notably in Managua.

A number of stores and businesses have closed amid the violence, leading to shortages of fuel, food, and medications. Public transportation has also been affected, with fewer buses running in cities and access to Managua’s Augusto C. Sandino International Airport (MGA) sporadically blocked.

The US on Monday ordered the evacuation of embassy staff family members and reduced embassy/consulate services until further notice. Some foreign governments, including the US, have advised their citizens to consider postponing travel to Nicaragua until further notice.

Context

The anti-government protests broke out on April 18 to denounce the reforms, but have since generalized following the violent government crackdown. Demonstrations have taken place in various areas of the country, including Managua, León, Granada, Estelí, Matagalpa, Masaya, Bluefields, Jinotepe, and Tipitapa.

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.