Nicaragua: Crackdown on Ortega’s potential challengers continues

US imposes sanctions on Nicaraguan officials after four potential challengers to President Daniel Ortega arrested.

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega faces mounting international criticism after four potential presidential contenders were detained during the past week, prompting United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Wednesday to call for their release. On Tuesday, Juan Sebastian Chamorro Garcia was the latest opposition leader to be arrested, hours after Felix Maradiaga was detained. Chamorro Garcia, the cousin of another detained presidential hopeful Cristiana Chamorro – seen as a favourite to beat Ortega in a November vote – was arrested on Tuesday on allegations of “inciting foreign interference in internal affairs”.