Nicaragua

Since 2014, Nicaragua has seen widespread protests against President Ortega's rule and actions. In April 2018, protests erupted in response to social changes. President Ortega effectively suppresses the country's political opposition. Ortega's government banned thousands of NGOs' activities in the country and evicted human rights lawyers, journalists, students, and opposition leaders. As a result of widespread digital censorship, civil society has faced violent attacks and major restrictions on freedom of expression.

Furthermore, since 2020, the government has had the authority to decide what constitutes misinformation, and it has imprisoned civilians for years for spreading what it considers problematic. Because of these developments, Freedom House has categorised Nicaragua as 'not free'. Ortega's dictatorship has a close relationship with China, receiving significant Chinese investment as well as military weaponry from Russia.

Despite the formation of the Blue and White National Unity (UNAB) in 2018, which brought together 43 pro-democracy organisations to fight for reform and democracy in the country, the coalition has struggled to function successfully in an authoritarian political setting.