Nicaragua's government shut down 151 nongovernmental organizations on Thursday, including major trade bodies like the American Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM). This move follows the closure of approximately 1,500 mostly religious NGOs earlier this week. The Interior Ministry also revoked the legal standing of the umbrella organization for European chambers of commerce in the country.
AMCHAM, which has been operating in the country for 47 years, focused on fostering investment and trade with the US, Nicaragua's key trading partner. Despite longstanding tensions between the US and Nicaragua, particularly since President Daniel Ortega's crackdown on 2018 protests, economic exchanges had persisted. Also terminated were the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers and chambers of commerce from Mexico, Panama, and Uruguay.
Ortega's government maintains that NGOs funded from abroad were part of efforts to dislodge him. Since 2018, over 5,000 organizations have been shut down. Economist Enrique Sáenz criticized the closures as "absolutely irrational," arguing they harm job creation and send a "disturbing message" to international business interests. He emphasized that many organizations offer critical aid to vulnerable Nicaraguans, highlighting wider socio-economic repercussions. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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