UN Panel Accuses Nicaragua’s Ortega Regime of Crimes Against Humanity, Calls for Sanctions

A United Nations‑appointed human‑rights panel has declared that President Daniel Ortega’s government has been carrying out systematic violations that amount to crimes against humanity. The three‑member team documented a sustained campaign of torture, extrajudicial executions and arbitrary detentions that has been ongoing since 2018. The report names Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, as direct participants in the abuses and urges the international community to impose legal action and sanctions against those responsible.

In a briefing in Geneva, Chair Jan Simon warned that the regime’s objective is to silence dissent through “weaponised” state functions, leaving the Nicaraguan population in a state of fear. The panel also condemned the government’s recent decision to strip 222 opposition figures of their nationality after they were flown to the United States.

Since the 2018 anti‑government protests, security forces have killed more than 300 civilians. The experts recorded over 100 documented executions, hundreds of torture cases and thousands of instances of political persecution. Simon cautioned that the crisis could deteriorate further, signalling a looming humanitarian emergency.

Despite sending 12 letters to the Nicaraguan authorities over the past year, the panel has received no response, raising concerns about the regime’s willingness to engage with international scrutiny.