Nicaragua Cancels Caritas Diocesan Association in Matagalpa
On 12 August, Nicaragua made a controversial decision, cancelling Matagalpa’s diocesan Caritas organisation along with 14 other NGOs in the area. This move has sparked outrage as it follows a series of arrests and expulsions of priests in recent days. The cancelled organisations will have their assets transferred to the State.
The decision to revoke the legal status of the Caritas Diocesan Association of Matagalpa and other NGOs was made by Nicaragua’s Ministry of the Interior (MINT), led by Minister María Amelia Coronel. The announcement was published in the official Nicaraguan gazette, Gaceta, on 12 August.
Caritas of Matagalpa has been a vital social welfare center run by the Catholic Church since its establishment in 2009. Over the years, it has played a key role in facilitating development in remote communities, especially focusing on the most impoverished and underserved populations in the Matagalpa region.
The cancellation of Caritas, amidst the backdrop of tension in Matagalpa, is said to be due to “non-compliance” issues, such as failing to submit financial reports for the years 2020-2023 and an expired Board of Directors term. As a result, the State will now take control of the assets previously held by Caritas and the other affected NGOs.
Since December 2018, Nicaragua has banned over 3,600 non-governmental organisations, with their assets being transferred to the State. This recent move has raised concerns about the government’s crackdown on civil society and freedom of expression in the country.
Reports have also emerged of a police operation in the Cathedral of Matagalpa, with alleged incidents of agents in civilian clothing entering the church, intimidating staff, and threatening to expel clergy members from Nicaragua.
Overall, the situation in Matagalpa reflects a larger trend of government suppression of civil society groups and religious freedoms in Nicaragua. The cancellation of Caritas and other NGOs raises questions about the future of social welfare efforts and humanitarian work in the region.
