U.S. sanctions Nicaraguan top official over alleged human rights violations

By Kazeem Ugbodaga

The United States has designated Nicaragua’s Vice Minister of the Interior, Luis Roberto Cañas Novoa, over alleged involvement in gross violations of human rights, marking a fresh escalation in Washington’s response to the Central American country’s political crisis.

In a statement issued on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the action was taken under Section 7031(c), which bars designated individuals and their immediate family members from entering the United States.

The designation coincides with the anniversary of the April 2018 protests in Nicaragua, when widespread demonstrations erupted against the government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo.

According to the U.S. government, the protests were met with a violent crackdown by security forces, resulting in the deaths of more than 325 demonstrators.

Washington has repeatedly accused Nicaraguan authorities of repression, corruption, and systemic abuses during and after the unrest.

Rubio stated that the latest designation underscores the U.S. government’s commitment to holding accountable those allegedly responsible for human rights violations and supporting the people of Nicaragua in their calls for democratic governance.

The Nicaraguan government has consistently rejected such accusations, describing them as external interference in its internal affairs.

The latest move adds to a growing list of sanctions imposed by the United States against officials in President Ortega’s administration, as tensions between both countries continue over governance and human rights concerns.