Nicaragua Frees 135 Political Prisoners in US-Brokered Deal

In a significant development, the Nicaraguan government has released 135 political prisoners, including 13 members of a Texas-based evangelical Christian organization. This covert operation, negotiated by the Biden administration, took place on September 4, 2024, marking a crucial moment in Nicaragua's ongoing political and religious tensions.

The freed individuals were transported to Guatemala, where they will have the opportunity to apply for legal status in the United States. This move comes amidst Nicaragua's intensifying crackdown on religious organizations and opposition groups, which has been ongoing since the anti-government protests of 2018.

Daniel Ortega's government, which has been in power since 2007, has been accused of suppressing dissent and targeting religious institutions. The administration has closed over 5,000 civic organizations, many of them religious, and has been particularly harsh on the Catholic Church and evangelical Christian groups.

The release operation is the second of its kind orchestrated by the Biden administration. In 2023, 222 Nicaraguan inmates, including prominent opposition figures and business leaders, were freed and flown to Washington.

John Kirby, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, emphasized the collaborative effort of democracies in achieving this outcome. The operation was described as part of a broader initiative led by Vice President Kamala Harris to address root causes of migration in Central America.

"Guatemala firmly rejects the threat of a return to the authoritarian era. Today we reaffirm this commitment and return the international solidarity that we have received so often, by taking in 135 Nicaraguan brothers and freed political prisoners."

This prisoner release highlights the complex political landscape in Nicaragua, a country known as the "Land of Lakes and Volcanoes." Despite its natural beauty, including the largest freshwater lake in Central America and the second-largest rainforest in the Americas after the Amazon, Nicaragua has faced significant political challenges.

The country, which gained independence from Spain in 1821, has a population of approximately 6.6 million people and boasts a literacy rate of about 82%. However, its economy, primarily based on agriculture and mining, has been affected by political instability.

As Nicaragua navigates these turbulent times, the international community continues to monitor the situation closely, hoping for a return to democratic norms and religious freedom in this Central American nation.