Nicaragua Bans 169 NGOs in Crackdown

Nicaragua's government has banned 169 non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including prominent entities like Save the Children, as part of an ongoing crackdown on civil society led by President Daniel Ortega. This latest closure follows the revocation of legal status for 1,500 NGOs just days prior, bringing the total number of banned organizations to nearly 5,600 since anti-government protests erupted in 2018. The government claims these organizations failed to comply with financial reporting regulations and accuses them of undermining the Sandinista regime. Ortega's administration has intensified restrictions on civil society, including new laws mandating NGOs to operate in partnership with state entities and subjecting churches to taxation. The crackdown has drawn condemnation from the United Nations and has led to widespread sanctions from the U.S. and the EU. Ortega, who views the protests as a coup attempt backed by foreign powers, has also targeted universities and media outlets during this campaign.