INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
(Analysis) On April 18, 2018, protests erupted across Nicaragua after President Daniel Ortega announced controversial social security
reforms.The measures increased taxes and reduced benefits, sparking outrage
than 350 civilians were killed, over 2,000 injured, and hundreds detained in what international experts now classify as crimes against
humanity.For years, the Nicaraguan Army claimed neutrality during the unrest
However, a United Nations report released on February 26, 2025, dismantled this narrative.The UN Group of Experts presented credible
evidence implicating the military in the violent repression orchestrated by Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo
The report revealed that military leaders actively collaborated with police and paramilitary groups to suppress dissent.From Neutrality to
(Photo Internet reproduction)Two days after protests began, high-ranking military officials met to discuss strategies to counter what they
intervention despite lacking jurisdiction over public security matters
Soldiers disguised as civilians joined paramilitary forces in operations targeting protesters.The repression was brutal and deliberate
Snipers used military-grade weapons to kill demonstrators, aiming at vital body parts to maximize casualties
Victims included students, women, and children.The military also provided intelligence to identify protest leaders and coordinated with
extrajudicial killings.The economic impact of the unrest was severe
A national lockout organized by businesses opposing the government cost Nicaragua an estimated $20 million to $25 million per day (R$120
million to R$150 million).Meanwhile, Ortega strengthened his grip on power by institutionalizing paramilitary forces under the guise of
