United States condemns property seizures and mining abuses in Nicaragua

The United States has issued strong condemnations against the Ortega-Murillo administration in Nicaragua regarding the treatment of foreign citizens and labor practices. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Juan Pablo Segura, labeled the confiscation of nine luxury homes in Tola, Rivas, as “unacceptable.” These properties, belonging to American retirees and investors, were reportedly seized by the Attorney General’s Office and transferred to the Nicaraguan Social Security Institute without prior notification to the owners.

Additionally, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica reported that Chinese mining companies operating in Nicaragua are engaging in abusive practices against artisanal miners. These companies allegedly force workers to sell extracted gold at prices below market rates. This coercion has reportedly driven Nicaraguan miners to cross the border into Costa Rica to engage in illegal gold mining, increasing irregular migration and pressure on the northern Costa Rican border.

Investigations indicate that the Nicaraguan government has granted approximately 85 mining concessions to Chinese firms, covering roughly 10% of the country's territory.