Nicaragua closes US Chamber of Commerce, 150 other organisations

MEXICO CITY: Nicaragua's government closed another 151 non-governmental organisations on Thursday, among them some of the most important trade organisations, including the American Chamber of Commerce, coming just days after the government shuttered some 1,500 nongovernmental organisations, many of them religious in nature.

The Interior Ministry also cancelled the legal status of the umbrella organisation for European countries' chambers of commerce in Nicaragua.

The US chamber, known locally as AMCHAM, had been in existence in Nicaragua for 47 years. It focused on promoting investment and bilateral trade with Nicaragua's most important trade partner. The Associated Press left messages with the chamber seeking comment on the move.

The relationship between the US and Nicaragua has been strained for years, especially since President Daniel Ortega's deadly crackdown on massive street protests in 2018, but commerce continued.

Other groups closed in the decree were the National Union of Farmers and Ranchers, as well as chambers of commerce from various other countries including Mexico, Panama and Uruguay.

Ortega has targeted nongovernmental organisations since the 2018 uprising, alleging that organisations receiving foreign funds were involved in what he considered an attempt to oust him from office. To date, his government has closed more than 5,000.

On Monday, Ortega decreed that 1,500 organisations, mostly religious and including churches, be closed. Officially, the government said they had not correctly reported their financial statements to the government.

Enrique Sáenz, an economist and political analyst, said that the closure of organisations tied to the private sector, which he characterised as "absolutely irrational."

"They're shooting themselves in the foot with a shotgun," he said, noting that the government is reducing public spending and now will lose the jobs those organisations created.

"It sends a disturbing message" to businesses and overseas and displays "a climate of uncertainty for trade and investment," he said.

The closures impact Nicaraguans as well since many of the organisations provide some form of relief to people in need, he said.

By RSS/AP