Nicaragua to pull out of Central American Parliament
BUENOS AIRES, Oct 4 - Nicaragua is withdrawing from the Central American Parliament, furthering its isolation on the international stage as the country is accused of rampant human rights abuses.
Source: Straits Times World · October 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM · AI-assisted report
Single-sourceKUALA LUMPUR, 4 OCTOBER 2026 —
Nicaragua withdraws from Central American Parliament, deepening regional isolation amid human rights crackdown
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Nicaragua has formally withdrawn from the Central American Parliament (PARLACEN), escalating its diplomatic isolation as the Ortega administration faces mounting international condemnation over human rights abuses and political repression.
The move, announced by Nicaragua’s foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday, marks the latest in a series of withdrawals from regional and international bodies. The ministry declared it was denouncing the 1987 treaty establishing PARLACEN "in the full exercise of its sovereignty," with the decision taking immediate effect. The government did not provide further comment when contacted for clarification.
The withdrawal follows a resolution by the Organization of American States (OAS) on Friday, which called on Nicaragua to release political prisoners and restore civil liberties.
Nicaragua had already severed ties with the OAS in 2023, citing what it described as the organization’s role as a "tool for US interventionism." In 2025, the government also announced its intention to leave the United Nations Human Rights Council after a UN report urged the international community to address systemic human rights violations in the country.
Nicaragua’s political crisis has deepened since April 2018, when protests against pension reforms were violently suppressed by security forces, resulting in over 350 deaths, nearly 2,000 injuries, and thousands of arrests or forced displacements. The government, led by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, has since consolidated power, announcing in July 2026 that it would no longer hold elections.
Ortega, who first took office in the 1980s, has ruled continuously since 2007.
The withdrawal from PARLACEN further isolates Nicaragua within Central America, where regional cooperation has increasingly focused on addressing democratic backsliding and human rights concerns. The move also underscores the government’s defiance of international pressure, as it continues to face sanctions and diplomatic boycotts from Western governments and regional allies.
For Malaysia and the broader Southeast Asian region, Nicaragua’s actions serve as a cautionary example of how prolonged political repression and isolation can undermine a nation’s standing in international forums. While Malaysia has not directly engaged in the Nicaraguan crisis, the case highlights the risks of authoritarian consolidation and the potential for economic and diplomatic repercussions, particularly in an era where human rights and democratic governance remain key priorities in global diplomacy.
The next steps for Nicaragua remain unclear, but further withdrawals from international bodies are expected as the Ortega administration doubles down on its isolationist stance.