Central America

Nicaragua’s Ortega proposes law to control international organizations and cooperation

Nicaraguan President heads anniversary of the Naval Force

Nicaragua’s President, Daniel Ortega, presented a law on Tuesday to control the work of international organizations, cooperation agencies, and diplomatic missions in the country, according to a document released by Nicaraguan media in exile, which was accessed by AFP.

The proposal was submitted to Congress, which is controlled by the government, as part of a series of laws accompanying a constitutional reform passed last Friday that grants Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo absolute control over the Nicaraguan state.

The initiative states that international cooperation “must have the consent and authorization of the government, both initially and during its implementation.”

It also stipulates that the work of these organizations “must be carried out without political, economic, social, or cultural conditions,” while respecting “national sovereignty, independence, and self-determination.”

The law expressly prohibits any type of “interference in Nicaragua’s internal affairs.”

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International cooperation “must align with national priorities and be in accordance with the plans, programs, and national strategies set by the government,” the document highlights.

With this reform, Ortega further consolidates his control over international entities after reforming the “Foreign Agents” and “Control of Non-Profit Organizations” laws, which require NGOs to work only in “partnership alliances” with state entities.

Since the protests against Ortega in 2018, which he and Murillo claimed were supported by NGOs and the Catholic Church, more than 5,300 organizations have been shut down by the government. Dozens of clerics from the Church were imprisoned and later expelled to the Vatican, the United States, and other countries.

Ortega, a 78-year-old former guerrilla who ruled Nicaragua in the 1980s and has been in power since 2007, claims the protests, which according to the UN left more than 300 dead, were an attempted coup sponsored by Washington.

Thousands of Nicaraguans have fled into exile, and about 450 politicians, businesspeople, intellectuals, and artists have been stripped of their nationality in recent years, accused of “treason to the homeland.”

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.