30 Apr 2018 | 02:18 AM UTC
Nicaragua: Thousands march in anti-government protest in Managua April 28 /update 8
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters march in Managua, other Nicaraguan cities April 28; additional protests expected in the coming days
Event
Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters marched in Managua on Saturday, April 28, demanding that President Daniel Ortega resign from office. The demonstration, organized by the Catholic Church in Nicaragua as "a march for peace and justice," reportedly carried on without major incident; no clashes between demonstrators and security forces were reported, as well as no casualties. Related demonstrations were held in other Nicaraguan cities on Saturday, including in León and Matagalpa.
Church officials told protesters that the Church has pressured Ortega's government to adequately address demonstrators' demands within one month. Additional anti-government protests are expected in Nicaragua in the coming days; heightened security measures and localized transportation disruptions are to be anticipated near protest sites.
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.
