Nicaragua Orders Closure of 1,500 NGOs and Church Groups

Nicaragua's government has taken a significant step in its crackdown on civil society groups, revoking the registration of 1,500 non-profit organizations. This move affects a wide range of groups, including sports-oriented associations and religiously-tied organizations, with over 400 of the latter being Christian. The Diocese of Matagalpa's Caritas was also specifically targeted, with its legal status being canceled earlier this month. The charges against these organizations vary, with some being accused of failing to declare their income, while the government views the 2018 protests as an attempted coup d'état promoted by the United States.