Nicaragua Roundup: Red Cross, diplomacy, China, Argentina, UN, crime
Nicaragua expels International Committee of the Red Cross
On Monday, December 18, President Daniel Ortega expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) from Nicaragua. In a statement, the ICRC said that it had "closed its office in Managua" following "the request of the Nicaraguan authorities, thus ending the humanitarian mission in the country”. The organisation emphasised that, just "as it does in more than 80 countries," its work "is exclusively humanitarian and strictly adheres to the principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence."
Strengthened ties with China
China and Nicaragua upgraded their bilateral ties on Wednesday, December 20, the Chinese foreign ministry announced. "The two sides unanimously decided to upgrade relations between the two countries to a strategic partnership," according to a readout of a phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Nicaraguan counterpart Daniel Ortega. The meeting was organised to commemorate the second anniversary of the reestablishment of diplomatic ties between Managua and Beijing, which occurred after Nicaragua broke off relations with Taiwan.
Milei will not appoint an ambassador to Nicaragua
Argentina's new President, Javier Milei, has instructed his Minister of Foreign Affairs not to appoint an ambassador to Nicaragua, according to local media reports. Diplomatic relations would therefore be different from those maintained by his predecessor, Alberto Fernández.
Criticism from the UN
On Monday, December 18, the United Nations Human Rights Council warned that Nicaragua is "drifting further and further away from human rights". " Every day that passes, the country is drifting further away from fundamental freedoms, intensifying the suffering of the people, fuelling the exodus of the youth, and undermining the future of democratic institutions," stated Nada Al-Nashif, the UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, from Geneva.
Religious organisations
On Sunday, December 17, the National Police of Nicaragua arrested eleven individuals accused of money laundering, using the U.S. Christian organisations "Sacudiendo las Naciones” and "Puerta de la Montaña" as a "front," as reported by 100% Noticias.
