Nicaragua Shuts Down 1,500 Non-Profit Groups, Targets Evangelical Ministries in Latest Crackdown

In a sweeping move, the Nicaraguan government has shut down 1,500 non-profit organizations, including hundreds of evangelical ministries, accusing them of failing to disclose financial records. Critics, however, view this as another step in President Daniel Ortega’s relentless drive to consolidate power by silencing independent voices. Vice President Rosario Murillo and Interior Minister María Amelia Coronel are said to be directly involved in this ongoing crackdown.

The government’s actions extend beyond closures, as they are also seizing assets from these groups for the state. Vatican News reports that while some Catholic groups have been targeted, the majority of the closures affect evangelical communities. This is part of a broader trend since 2018, with over 5,200 NGOs wiped out, as Ortega’s regime tightens its grip on Nicaragua.