Nicaragua Country Update

In 2026, the government of President Daniel Ortega and self-appointed Co-President Rosario Murillo weaponized laws on treason, sovereignty, and various crimes that restricted freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). This publication examines how Ortega and Murillo increasingly target indigenous populations and Nicaraguans in exile—many of whom are expelled clergy or laypeople—as they seek to maintain power. Nicaragua has resisted efforts by the international community, including the United States, to alter the regime’s actions.