The President of Nicaragua has been in power since 2007
In a unanimous decision, the Organization of American States (OAS) asks the Nicaragua stop all human rights violations and release political prisoners. Hundreds of opponents were arrested in the country as part of the repression following the antidictator protests in 2018 Daniel Ortega. The resolution subsequently sparked controversy Brazil Changes were made to the original draft by the United States, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, and Antigua and Barbuda, making the document less forceful. After meeting with Pope FrancisLula questioned the arrest of bishops in Nicaragua and said he would speak to Ortega about the case. “The church has problems in Nicaragua because there priests and bishops are in prison. The only thing the Church wants is that Nicaragua releases the bishop so that he can go to Italy. I intend to speak to Daniel Ortega to release the bishop. […] I’ll try to help if I can,” Lula said. Ortega has been in power since 2007 and was reelected in 2021 in elections contested by the international community and the OAS. In protest at the nonrecognition of the dispute, Nicaragua asked to withdraw from the body, which will happen in November.
*With information from reporter André Anelli