US Sanctions Nicaraguan Officials for Repression

State Dept EB Bureau

Filed February 26th, 2026

Detected March 1st, 2026

Summary

The U.S. Department of State announced sanctions on five senior Nicaraguan officials for their roles in the repression of the Nicaraguan people. These actions are taken under Executive Orders 13851 and 14088, targeting individuals involved in human rights abuses and consolidation of power by the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship.

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What changed

The U.S. Department of State has imposed sanctions on five senior Nicaraguan officials, identified as agents of the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship responsible for enforcing repression against the Nicaraguan people. These sanctions, enacted under Executive Order 13851 as amended by E.O. 14088, target individuals leading government agencies implicated in violent repression of protests, unjust detentions, torture, killings of political opponents, persecution of clergy, and suppression of independent media and civil society since 2018.

Regulated entities, particularly those with international operations or financial dealings involving Nicaragua, should review the specific individuals and entities sanctioned by the Department of the Treasury, as detailed in their accompanying press release. Compliance officers must ensure that no transactions or dealings occur with the sanctioned parties to avoid violations of U.S. sanctions law. The U.S. government reiterates its commitment to using diplomatic and economic tools to address threats in the hemisphere and calls for the release of all political prisoners in Nicaragua.

What to do next

Review Treasury Department press release for details on sanctioned individuals and entities.
Ensure no transactions or dealings occur with the sanctioned parties.
Update internal compliance procedures to reflect new sanctions against Nicaraguan officials.

Penalties

Sanctions imposed under Executive Orders, implying asset freezes and restrictions on dealings.

Source document (simplified)

Home Office of the Spokesperson Press Releases … Sanctioning the Murillo-Ortega Dictatorship’s Agents Enforcing Its Repression of the Nicaraguan People hide

Sanctioning the Murillo-Ortega Dictatorship’s Agents Enforcing Its Repression of the Nicaraguan People

Press Statement

Thomas "Tommy" Pigott, Principal Deputy Spokesperson

February 26, 2026

The Trump Administration is acting once again to hold Nicaraguan dictators Rosario María Murillo Zambrana and Daniel Ortega Saavedra and their enablers to account. The United States is imposing sanctions on five senior Nicaraguan officials who incited regional instability through the dictatorship’s consolidation of power and ongoing abuses against the Nicaraguan people.

Since 2018, the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship has violently repressed peaceful protests, unjustly detained, tortured, and killed political opponents. This illegitimate family dynasty has also persecuted Catholic clergy and has opted to silence and banish independent media and civil society organizations. The dictatorship rewrote Nicaragua’s constitution to ensure government institutions punish political opponents and allow the arbitrary monitoring and control of telecommunications systems. The dictatorship has committed systemic labor abuses and uses security structures to monitor and silence anyone perceived to threaten their grip on power. The individuals sanctioned today lead government agencies responsible for these acts of repression.

This administration will continue to use all available diplomatic and economic tools to address those who threaten U.S. national security in our hemisphere. We reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Nicaragua.

Today’s action is being taken pursuant to the authorities under Executive Order (E.O.) 13851, as amended by E.O 14088. For more information on today’s action, please see the Department of the Treasury’s press release. **