United Nations human rights experts say there are reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity have been committed in Nicaragua, while the government denies the allegations. Their investigation, underway since April 2018, describes detentions, disappearances, political persecution and citizenship removals aimed at eliminating opposition. The experts cite at least 452 people stripped of citizenship since February 2023 and more than 5,000 organizations shuttered since 2018. They urge countries to bring a case against Nicaragua at the International Court of Justice over the convention on statelessness. No filing date is given, and the recommendation is not a case already underway.
TLDR: U.N. experts describe a pattern of political repression in Nicaragua and say there are reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity have occurred. They recommend that countries consider taking the statelessness issue to the International Court of Justice, but no filing date is specified.
United Nations human rights experts say there are reasonable grounds to believe that crimes against humanity have been committed in Nicaragua. Their group has investigated allegations of human rights abuses since April 2018. Nicaragua’s government denies the allegations. The experts’ findings and the government’s denial remain central to understanding the dispute.
The experts say Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo have used arbitrary detentions, forced disappearances, political persecution and citizenship removals to eliminate opposition. Their stated rationale for raising the alarm is straightforward: they say those actions form part of a campaign to secure permanent dynastic rule and have reached the threshold of crimes against humanity. The finding is an expert assessment, not a court judgment. It does not mean a court has found Ortega, Murillo or other officials guilty. The experts are urging action based on their assessment, while Nicaragua rejects the claims.
Jan-Michael Simon, chair of the group appointed by the U.N. Human Rights Council, described Nicaragua as a dictatorship with the goal of permanent dynastic rule. He also cited Ortega’s statement, made four months before the report, that Nicaragua would never hold elections again. The experts’ account points to the country’s 2021 election, when Ortega declared himself the winner after jailing all candidates who might have beaten him. The vote was widely viewed as illegitimate internationally, and the United States does not recognize Ortega’s presidency.
The report places those events against the mass protests of 2018 and a government crackdown that killed hundreds. Ortega and Murillo have remained in power since then. Nicaragua has rejected the Human Rights Council’s findings and called the council manipulated, obsolete and interfering. The government, which has withdrawn from the council, accused foreign powers of using human rights claims for political aggression. The two accounts sharply disagree: the experts describe a campaign against opponents, while the government says the criticism is political interference.
Reed Brody, a member of the U.N. expert group, said the ruling Sandinista Party has total control over police, courts and prisons. He said a constitution adopted last year placed the legislature and judiciary under the control of the co-presidents, ending their independence. Brody also said there are no opposition parties, independent press or critical nongovernmental organizations left inside the country. Those are his descriptions of the political landscape, presented within the experts’ account. In that account, control of state institutions helps explain how pressure on critics can continue.
The group says opponents have faced imprisonment, exile and loss of citizenship, homes and possessions. Since February 2023, Brody said, at least 452 people considered political opponents have been declared traitors and stripped of citizenship, leaving them stateless. Those affected include former Sandinista leaders, a former vice president and every presidential candidate from 2021. The government has also shuttered more than 5,000 organizations since 2018, largely religious groups, and forced thousands to flee the country. The report’s examples describe consequences for people with different roles, from political figures to members of religious and civic groups.
The allegations extend beyond Nicaragua’s borders. Brody said a transnational surveillance network monitors, intimidates and attacks hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguans abroad. The report describes a system in which political dissent is constrained at home while people who have left remain exposed to pressure. The available account does not provide details about specific incidents, costs, forms or compliance procedures related to that alleged network. It also does not describe how people abroad can seek protection from the reported monitoring or intimidation.
For people directly affected, the consequences described are severe and concrete: detention or exile, loss of citizenship, homes and possessions, and displacement from Nicaragua. The reported citizenship removals leave people stateless, while the closure of organizations has narrowed the space for religious and civic activity. These are practical effects of the actions described by the experts, rather than a list of services or remedies available to those affected. The account provides no fee schedule, paperwork requirements or deadline for people affected. Those details are not specified in the experts’ findings summarized here.
The experts urge countries to bring a case against Nicaragua before the International Court of Justice, the U.N.’s highest tribunal, over alleged violations of the convention on statelessness. That is a recommendation for other countries, not a case already filed. Nicaragua is not a party to the International Criminal Court, a separate institution. The next step identified by the experts is for countries to consider the proposed International Court of Justice case; no filing date or further timetable is provided. The recommendation does not guarantee that a country will act or that a case will proceed. The experts’ assessment and Nicaragua’s rejection of it remain the basis of the dispute, while the consequences for people described in the report continue to be central to the allegations.
Julie Harris serves as a Staff Writer for Just Right News, where she tackles some of the most pressing and complex issues facing the nation today. As the lead reporter for the Migration, Demographics & Cultural Shifts beat, Julie provides a grounded, principled perspective on how the movement of people and the changing makeup of communities are reshaping the American landscape. Her work is defined by a commitment to exploring the long-term consequences of social change, prioritizing the stability of local institutions and the preservation of national identity.
Her deep understanding of these issues is rooted in her upbringing in Tucson, Arizona. Growing up in a prominent border state, Julie witnessed firsthand the intricate realities of migration and the profound impact it has on local infrastructure, law enforcement, and the social fabric. This early exposure instilled in her a respect for the rule of law and a keen awareness of the challenges that arise when federal policies fail to align with the needs of border communities. Her reporting often reflects this lived experience, bringing a necessary level of nuance to topics that are often treated with abstraction in coastal newsrooms.
Now based in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Julie continues to report from the heart of the American Southwest. Her location provides a unique vantage point to observe the intersection of traditional regional cultures and the modern shifts brought about by both internal and external migration. In Santa Fe, a city defined by its rich history and distinct cultural heritage, she finds a perfect environment to explore how communities strive to maintain their character while navigating the pressures of a rapidly changing world. This perspective allows her to bridge the gap between policy debates in Washington and the reality of life in the high desert.
At Just Right News, Julie’s work is characterized by a dedication to examining the data and the human stories that define the “New Mosaic” of America. Her signature feature series, “The New Mosaic,” has become a cornerstone of her reporting. Through this series, Julie explores the evolving social architecture of the United States, documenting how shifts in population affect everything from local economies to the political landscape. She brings a critical eye to the narrative of demographic inevitability, instead asking how these shifts impact the average citizen’s sense of belonging and the integrity of the American social contract.
Julie’s background and her dedication to conservative principles make her a vital voice in contemporary journalism. She understands that demographics are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet; they represent the future of the American family and the nation’s enduring legacy. Through her diligent reporting and insightful analysis, Julie Harris ensures that her readers are informed about the forces shaping their world, providing a perspective that is as thoughtful as it is necessary for the modern era.