Central America
Colombia hardens tone against Ortega, rejects his “dictatorial actions”.
February 24 |
Despite having used a conservative tone in its most recent pronouncements on the banishment and stripping of the nationality of Nicaraguan political opponents by the government of Daniel Ortega, a statement from the Colombian Foreign Ministry was more forceful on Thursday and rejected the “dictatorial actions” of the Nicaraguan head of state.
According to the text of the Colombian Foreign Ministry, the South American country “has registered with revulsion the measures taken arbitrarily” by Ortega against political prisoners, “whose only crime has been to defend democracy, the right to criticism and universal human rights”.
Last Friday, a communiqué from the Foreign Ministry expressed “concern” over the withdrawal of the nationality of 94 citizens, and regretted the stripping of the nationality of more than 200 former political prisoners sent to the United States, but said that their release and transfer was “an important step for the national dialogue”. And he called for “confidence-building measures that contribute to national reconciliation, respect for the rule of law and the well-being of the Nicaraguan people”.
But in less than a week, the government of President Gustavo Petro hardened his words by pointing out that Ortega’s actions evoke “the worst moments of the dictatorship of Atanasio Somoza that Sandinismo managed to overcome”.
He also condemned the “surprising and inhuman” exile of Nicaraguans who have fought “for the international community” and the use of “vulgar police measures”, and highlighted the struggle of those who have decided to stay in Nicaragua, taking as an example the case of the Bishop of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Alvarez, sentenced to 26 years in prison.
Colombia also urged the world “to react” and asked the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Mirjana Spoljaric, to request authorization to visit the Nicaraguans still imprisoned, since they are “victims” and “international humanitarian law covers them”.
“The authoritarianism that has been imposed in the sister republic has violated jus cogens norms”, adds the communiqué.
The Foreign Ministry also confirmed that it seeks to contact the exiles who wish to obtain Colombian nationality: “They would honor us very much”. Precisely, on Wednesday, Colombia offered nationality to writer Sergio Ramirez, who met with the Colombian Foreign Minister, Alvaro Leyva Duran, on Tuesday, in Madrid.
Argentina was the first country in the continent to offer nationality to “stateless” Nicaraguans. Subsequently, Chile, Spain and Mexico followed suit.
Central America
Nicaragua’s Alliances With U.S. Rivals Could Trigger More Sanctions, Analysis Says
The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to maintain political and economic pressure on the government of Nicaragua, led by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, due to its growing alliances with Russia, China and Iran, according to an analysis released Monday by the Centro de Estudios Transdisciplinarios de Centroamérica (Cetcam).
The report states that tensions between Washington and Managua have increased since the beginning of Trump’s second term and could worsen amid the regional political climate, particularly because of developments in Venezuela and Cuba.
Cetcam researchers noted that since the second half of 2025, the U.S. government has intensified criticism of the Sandinista administration, mainly regarding political prisoners, human rights, religious freedom and what it describes as the authoritarian model established by Ortega and Murillo.
“With this background, it is possible to foresee that Washington will maintain pressure, including sanctions, against the Ortega-Murillo dictatorship,” the think tank stated in its report.
The study also warns that one of Washington’s main concerns is the strengthening relationship between Managua and countries considered strategic rivals of the United States, particularly Russia, China and Iran.
Among the developments highlighted is the recent ratification by the Russian Senate of a military cooperation agreement signed with Nicaragua in 2025. The deal is expected to strengthen strategic coordination and Russia’s presence in Central America for an initial five-year period.
According to Cetcam, the move will “hardly go unnoticed” by the United States.
Central America
Guatemala swears in new attorney general after controversial exit of Consuelo Porras
The new Attorney General of Guatemala, Gabriel García Luna, officially took office on Sunday and pledged to restore public confidence in the institution while strengthening efforts against corruption and organized crime.
“Today does not mark the beginning of just another administration. Today marks an opportunity to restore dignity to Guatemala’s criminal justice system,” said García Luna, who was appointed by President Bernardo Arévalo.
García Luna succeeds Consuelo Porras, whose tenure began in 2018 and became highly controversial due to accusations of undermining democratic institutions and obstructing anti-corruption investigations.
Porras was sanctioned by the United States, the European Union, Canada, and the United Kingdom, among others, over allegations related to corruption and interference in judicial processes.
Her administration was also criticized for allegedly attempting to block President Arévalo’s inauguration in 2024 and for pursuing legal actions against former anti-mafia prosecutors, judges, journalists, and Indigenous leaders, many of whom later went into exile.
During his inauguration speech, García Luna acknowledged that many Guatemalans had lost trust in the Attorney General’s Office.
“For years, many Guatemalans lost confidence in the institution, not because they stopped believing in justice, but because justice stopped believing in them. Today begins the duty to restore that trust,” he stated.
The new attorney general also admitted he inherited an institution “with deep wounds.”
The United States has accused Porras of obstructing anti-corruption investigations to protect political allies and secure political favors.
Critics argue that such actions benefited the so-called “pact of the corrupt,” an alleged network of political, economic, and criminal interests believed to exert influence over Guatemala’s justice system.
Central America
Mulino Vows Tougher Crackdown as Homicides Increase in Panama
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said Thursday that his administration will not negotiate with gangs in an attempt to curb the wave of violence that has recently shaken the country and fueled growing public concern over insecurity.
“I am not going to sit down, nor is the security minister going to sit down with the leader of any gang to negotiate,” Mulino stated while rejecting any possibility of dialogue with criminal organizations.
According to statistics from the Public Ministry of Panama, the country recorded 62 homicides in April, nearly double the 34 reported during the same month last year. In March, authorities registered 53 killings, representing a 20% increase compared to the same period in 2025.
Panamanian authorities say the country’s two main gangs, among more than 180 criminal organizations identified nationwide, are behind the recent escalation in violence.
The National Police of Panama stated that disputes over territorial control, recruitment of new members, and drug theft between rival gangs are driving the increase in murders and armed attacks.
Mulino also expressed concern about innocent civilians becoming victims of the violence.
“They are in restaurants, they are in schools, and they become victims of these shootings,” the president said.
The Panamanian leader further called for tougher judicial measures against gang leaders and drug trafficking operators, criticizing court decisions that grant house arrest to suspects linked to contract killings and organized crime.
“We are going to act as we must to defend the overwhelming majority of Panamanian citizens, who are not criminals and are not drug traffickers,” Mulino stated.
Authorities believe that rising cocaine production in South America and Panama’s role as a transit route for drugs destined for the United States and Europe continue to strengthen gangs involved in narcotics trafficking.
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