Why it Matters

Nicaragua's government has eliminated electoral competition, documented enforced disappearances, and is now accused by United Nations experts of crimes against humanity. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues has scheduled "Hearings To Examine Nicaragua's Political Crisis, Focusing On Ortega's Assault On Democracy" for September 30 with Sen. John Curtis (R-UT) as Chair and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) as Ranking Member.

Broader Context

On July 19 President Daniel Ortega publicly announced Nicaragua would no longer hold elections, drawing a joint statement from Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL): "We condemn in the strongest possible terms the July 19 statement made by Nicaraguan authoritarian leader Daniel Ortega about suspending elections."

In early September, Nicaragua's National Assembly approved a constitutional reform banning opposition parties from elections and extending the presidential term from six to seven years. The U.S. State Department called it a "legislative sham," saying the "captive National Assembly eroded the fiction of Nicaragua's democracy."

On September 22 a UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua found the government responsible for at least 161 enforced disappearances since April 2018, with 29 people whose whereabouts remain unknown, and attributed at least eight deaths in state custody to political detention. The experts called on countries to use universal jurisdiction to ensure accountability.

On September 15 a House hearing on Nicaragua was also held, issuing a press release titled "Chairwoman Salazar Leads House Hearing on Nicaragua, Warns of Growing U.S. National Security Threat."

The Bottom Line

The U.S. announced it would use the Organization of American States (OAS) to isolate the Nicaraguan government following the constitutional reform vote.

More details on the hearing are available at Legis1.

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