United Nations Calls for Investigation Into Death of Imprisoned Indigenous Leader in Nicaragua

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights on Tuesday called on the Nicaraguan government to conduct an impartial investigation into the death of an imprisoned Indigenous leader. The government announced the death on Sunday, stating that the 73-year-old died from a bacterial infection after his health deteriorated following a bout with COVID-19.

The leader had been detained since Sept. 29, 2023.

His family stated that the detention was for political reasons and that no formal charges had been filed. Last month the government published a report indicating the prisoner was on a ventilator and suffering from multiple organ failure. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the leader was arbitrarily detained and that his case constituted a forced disappearance because the government did not disclose his whereabouts during more than two years in custody.

A spokesperson for the office stated that the specific conditions of detention, including access to medical care, and the sequence of events leading to the death remain unclear. The office has previously criticized Nicaragua for a pattern of allegations involving torture and ill-treatment of prisoners.

In August 2025 the United Nations reported three other deaths in custody allegedly linked to poor detention conditions and insufficient medical care. At least 47 people are currently imprisoned in Nicaragua for political reasons, according to a monitoring group.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights called on the government to release all arbitrarily detained persons and to ensure that detention centers comply with international human rights standards.