Nicaragua has formally left the Organization of American States (OAS) after completing a two-year exit process. The Nicaraguan government celebrated this departure because it considered itself removed from an organization tied to the wishes of the United States. However, the US is considering applying new sanctions against the Ortega regime, while opposition leaders in Nicaragua congratulated Javier Milei on his electoral victory in Argentina.
Nicaragua’s Foreign Minister Denis Moncada stated that Nicaragua left the OAS because it perceived the organization as an “interference” group, linked to the United States. The Nicaraguan government decided to withdraw from the OAS two years ago due to questions surrounding its performance during the 2018 crisis, when anti-government protests left about 300 dead according to human rights organizations.
The OAS issued a statement urging Nicaragua to “respect all human rights.” Human Rights Watch also warned that Nicaragua’s decision to leave the OAS does not absolve it of its human rights obligations. Several exiled Nicaraguan opposition leaders congratulated Javier Milei on his victory in Argentina’s presidential elections and expressed their hope that Argentina can finally find its way towards development.
The US ambassador to the OAS, Francisco Mora, said that Washington is considering applying new “political and economic” sanctions against the Nicaraguan regime to pressure it into fulfilling its commitments regarding human rights and democracy. Mora emphasized that these measures will not negatively impact the Nicaraguan population but will instead force Mano Ortega’s regime to respect individual liberties and hold free and fair elections.