The dictatorship of Daniel Ortega has withdrawn from the Organization of American States (OAS) two years after the denunciation of the Inter-American Charter. In those days, the fraudulent presidential elections took shape, won by the Sandinista caudillo after imprisoning seven opposition pre-candidates and imposing false rivals to his measure.

"We are definitively withdrawing, we are no longer members of that infamous organization called the OAS, an interventionist organization of the unipolar and decadent hegemonic government of the United States. The OAS continues to be the Ministry of Colonies designed and organized by the U.S. power to cover up its aggressive actions," said the Foreign Ministry headed by Minister Denis Moncada.

The Pan American body "profoundly" regretted Nicaragua's departure, but reminded it that this does not prevent it from fulfilling its obligations. Seven months ago, the OAS offices in Managua were forcibly occupied and expropriated by the regime.

Since the popular rebellion of 2018 was repressed with blood and fire by the Sandinista revolution, there has been a succession of censures by the OAS against the Managua regime, which in turn has strengthened its ties with its "sisters" Cuba and Venezuela, as well as with Russia and China.

"This decision does not absolve it of its human rights obligations. The human rights system continues to have competence to judge the very serious violations committed by the Ortega regime until yesterday," said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at Human Rights Watch (HRW). At present, and despite the exile of more than 200 political prisoners, the dictatorship maintains close to a hundred political prisoners in prison. Prominent among them is the rebellious bishop Rolando Álvarez, who has refused to leave his country on up to three occasions.

The U.S. is not contemplating easing its pressure on Managua despite its withdrawal from the OAS, which puts it on a par with Cuba, which was expelled from the organization in 1962. "Political, economic and individual pressure tools are on the table. We are considering the possibility of expanding them," said Francisco Mora, Washington's ambassador to the OAS, who insisted that Ortega "is not interested in talking about democracy."

The region's third-largest dictatorship, Venezuela, left the body in 2019 after it failed to recognize Nicolás Maduro's fraudulent swearing-in and accepted the ambassador sent by Juan Guaidó's interim presidency.

  • OAS
  • Nicolas Maduro
  • Venezuela
  • Cuba
  • Nicaragua
  • Elections Venezuela