Exile, censorship, repression, and fear: Nicaragua is living through one of its darkest periods under the rule of Daniel Ortega. In this chronicle, Alejandro, speaking from exile, denounces how the regime has woven a network of control that connects Nicaragua with Venezuela and Cuba, consolidating a repressive model that threatens to replicate itself across Latin America.
Denied Rights in Latin America
In the cold stillness of exile, Alejandro looks into the camera with a tired but determined gaze. His voice, soaked in deep pain, tells stories that are less about heroes and more about survivors. Stories that bear witness to an unrelenting struggle, where democracy is a broken promise and the people are forced to choose between the fear of imprisonment or the despair of a life in exile.
THE SITUATION IN NICARAGUA IS GETTING WORSE
That’s how Alejandro begins, referring to a country caught in the grip of a regime that has achieved something few dictators in recent history have: absolute control. A control forged through repressive laws passed by the National Assembly and the systemic violence that has pushed thousands of Nicaraguans to flee in search of a better future.
The Absolute Power of Daniel Ortega: A System Sustained by Fear
People are leaving, Alejandro says, because there’s no space left for hope. Many try to escape the oppressive power of Daniel Ortega, whose dictatorship has grown over the years, consolidating a web of influence rooted in the police, the military, and what has become a trademark of the regime: paramilitary groups. These groups, organized by the Sandinista party, terrorize the population and serve as a constant reminder of the cruelty of a system fed by fear.
Related: Fragments of a Lost Homeland: The Cry of Nicaraguan Exiles
But what keeps Ortega in power? Alejandro has no doubt: “Unlike other dictators, Ortega has built his power on the army, the police, and the paramilitaries. He knows how to wield fear like no one else.” Ortega, with his decades of experience in power, has mastered techniques that others are only beginning to explore. “He’s Maduro’s teacher, a student of the Cold War,” he adds, referring to an era when repressive methods and control strategies were common throughout the socialist bloc.
The Nicaragua-Cuba-Venezuela Alliance: A Continental Strategy
To Alejandro, Ortega isn’t just the dictator of Nicaragua, but a piece in a larger puzzle involving other countries in the region. The relationship with Venezuela and Cuba is no coincidence. “The Cuba-Venezuela-Nicaragua triangle is aligned in its goals: to keep their personal agendas away from international scrutiny and prevent the people from deciding their own fate. They want superpowers to handle everything from the outside, without allowing room for democratic elections,” he explains.
As the conversation deepens, Alejandro’s criticism of Ortega’s regime becomes more direct. For him, the 1987 Constitution — which was supposed to be a social contract between the Nicaraguan people — has lost all meaning. “It’s as if it doesn’t exist. Today, that constitution has been transformed to serve a regime that not only controls, but seeks to establish a family monarchy,” he states. Ortega, he says, has made sure constitutional reforms align with his desire to stay in power indefinitely.
Life Under Surveillance: The Role of Paramilitaries in Nicaragua
In this “tropical kingdom,” control extends to every corner of daily life. Alejandro describes how fear spreads even to the most remote neighborhoods, where paramilitaries keep watch over every resident, sowing distrust and quickly silencing any hint of dissent. “The Romans’ ‘bread and circuses’ has never been more relevant than it is today in Nicaragua. Ortega masters it perfectly — but he adds fear to the mix,” says Alejandro, describing the atmosphere of repression consuming the country.
The figure of Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s wife, stands out as another key piece in the power apparatus. For many, the administration of the state has shifted from the president to the first lady. “Ortega has never wanted to govern, only to rule. She’s the one managing the country’s day-to-day,” Alejandro says with a faint sigh.
Nicaragua and Its Reflection in Latin America: A Cycle Repeating?
But Nicaragua isn’t an isolated case. Concerns about the influence of the regimes in Cuba and Venezuela on other Latin American countries — especially those with rising leftist governments — come up throughout the conversation. “When I look at Petro in Colombia or Morena in Mexico, I wonder if we’re witnessing a repeat of the same cycle we saw in Nicaragua and Venezuela. It’s the same discourse — just more polished, more subtle — but in the end, they’re on the same path,” he says, drawing a parallel between new leftist governments in the region and the old methods of repression that marked the histories of these three countries.
Alejandro’s warnings are clear. “Look at our neighbors, look at what happened in Venezuela, what’s happening in Nicaragua and Cuba. Socialism, communism — they’ve never been the solution. And the proof lies in how those regimes divide families, divide society, and create an atmosphere of terror. That’s what they’re promoting,” he says, with a grave tone that leaves little room for doubt.
Nicaraguan Exile: Pain, Separation, and Resistance
Yet despite everything, Alejandro doesn’t give up. “I’m here, and I’ll keep fighting for my people,” he concludes, remembering the harrowing experience of political persecution, family separation, and exile. For him, the pain of separation is just one chapter in a fight that, though it may seem lost, still burns in the hearts of Nicaraguans.
And while Ortega remains in power and fear continues to seep into the streets, the question remains: When will the repression suffocating Nicaragua come to an end? The answer, according to Alejandro, is far from clear. But the resistance, though fractured, is still alive.
In this video, we present Alejandro’s story.
