US and UK Impose Successive Sanctions on Nicaragua Regime

[Asia Economy Reporter Yujin Cho] The US and UK governments have imposed successive sanctions on the Daniel Ortega regime in relation to the recent presidential election held in Central American Nicaragua.

According to major foreign media on the 15th (local time), the US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) announced that it would add nine individuals affiliated with the Ortega regime and the Nicaraguan Prosecutor's Office to its sanctions list.

In a statement, the Treasury Department said, "This election is a response to the sham election led by President Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo," adding, "They suppressed the human rights and fundamental freedoms of the Nicaraguan people."

US President Joe Biden signed a bill on the 10th demanding additional sanctions against the Nicaraguan government.

Daniel Ortega, President of Nicaragua (right in the photo), and his wife and Vice President, Rosario Murillo. (Photo by AFP)

On the same day, the UK government also imposed measures including entry bans and freezing of UK bank accounts on eight senior regime officials, including Vice President Rosario Murillo, National Assembly President Gustavo Porras, and Supreme Court President Alba Ramos.

The UK government strongly criticized the Nicaraguan presidential election as a rigged election. The UK Foreign Office stated, "The Ortega regime denies the basic human rights of the Nicaraguan people. The recent election was manipulated, and opposition politicians and peaceful protesters continue to be imprisoned for political purposes."

Internationally, debates over the legitimacy of the Nicaraguan regime continue. Josep Borrell, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, issued a statement on behalf of the 27 member states immediately after the election, saying, "The Nicaraguan government has deprived its people of the right to elect their representatives," and added, "The EU will consider all available means to take further action," indicating a strengthening of sanctions.

The Spanish government also condemned the election, stating, "This election is nothing more than a mockery that does not reflect the true will of the people and creates a false image of a Central American country that has not escaped an oppressive and authoritarian regime."

Ortega ousted the pro-US Anastasio Somoza dictatorship in 1979 and was first elected president in 1984. After failing to be re-elected once in 1990, he has been in long-term power since 2007. With his recent victory securing his fifth term and fourth consecutive term, his tenure has been extended until 2027, opening the path for 20 consecutive years in power.

According to the Nicaraguan electoral council, President Ortega, who ran with Vice President candidate Murillo, received 75.87% of the vote. The official voter turnout was 65.26%. However, the election monitoring organization Urnas Abiertas reported that the turnout was only 18.5%, falling short of 20%.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.