Mexico City: Nicaragua has withdrawn from the Central American Parliament, deepening its diplomatic isolation amid international criticism over alleged human rights abuses and restrictions on civil liberties.
Nicaragua’s Foreign Ministry said on Saturday that it had decided to denounce the 1987 treaty establishing the regional parliamentary body, citing the country’s sovereignty. The decision took immediate effect.
The government did not immediately respond to requests for further comment. The move came a day after the Organization of American States (OAS) adopted a resolution calling on Nicaraguan authorities to release political prisoners and restore civil liberties. Nicaragua withdrew from the OAS in 2023, accusing the organization of serving as a tool for US intervention.
Nicaragua also announced in 2025 that it would withdraw from the United Nations Human Rights Council after a UN report called for international action over alleged human rights violations in the country.
The country has faced a prolonged political crisis since April 2018, when protests against the government were met with a police crackdown. More than 350 people were killed, about 2,000 injured, and thousands detained or forced to leave the country, according to international assessments.
In July, President Daniel Ortega’s government said Nicaragua would no longer hold elections, further raising concerns over the country’s political system and democratic institutions.
Ortega has remained in power since 2007, following an earlier period as president in the 1980s. His wife, Rosario Murillo, serves as vice president and has been a central figure in the government.
Nicaragua’s withdrawal from the Central American Parliament adds to a series of departures from regional and international institutions as the government faces continued scrutiny over political rights and civil liberties.
