The Indigenous World 2026: Nicaragua

Written on 22 April 2026. Posted in Nicaragua

Nicaragua has seven Indigenous and Native Peoples. In the Pacific Coast, centre and north are the Chorotega (221,000), the Cacaopera or Matagalpa (97,500), the Ocanxiu or Sutiaba (49,000) and the Nahoa or Nahuatl (20,000). In addition, the Caribbean (or Atlantic) Coast is inhabited by the Miskitu (150,000), the Sumu or Mayangna (27,000) and the Rama (2,000). Other peoples who also enjoy collective rights, according to the Political Constitution of Nicaragua (1987), are the Afro-descendants, known as the Creole or Kriol (43,000) and Garifuna (2,500).

In 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) took power in Nicaragua and were later opposed by the U.S.-funded armed front of peasant and Indigenous resistance known as “The Contra”. In 1987, as a result of the friendly settlement of the conflict through the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), and with the aim of ending Indigenous resistance, the FSLN created the Autonomous Regions of the Northern Caribbean Coast (RACCN) and Southern Caribbean Coast (RACCS), based on an Autonomy Statute (Law No. 28). As a result of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ (IACHR’s) judgement in the case of the Mayangna (Sumo) Community of Awas Tingni v. Nicaragua in 2001, the Communal Property Regime Law (Law No. 445) was issued. This law recognizes the communities’ right to self-government and creates a procedure for the titling of their traditional territories. In 2005, the state began the titling process for the 23 Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories in the RACCN and RACCS, culminating in the issuing of property titles.

In 2007, Nicaragua voted in favour of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and in 2010 ratified ILO Convention 169. In 2015, the Alliance of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendants of Nicaragua (APIAN) was formed. In 2020, Nicaragua ratified the Regional Agreement on Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in Environmental Matters in Latin America and the Caribbean (Escazú Agreement).

In January 2025, constitutional reforms (Law No. 1,234) subordinated the regional and municipal bodies to central government and limited communal property rights. That same year, the Law on Environmental Conservation Areas and Sustainable Development (Law No. 1248) removed the requirement to consult communities and authorized mining activities within legally protected areas. In turn, the Border Territories Law (Law No. 1258) now provides for the confiscation of lands located within a radius of 15 kilometres of the border, in violation of the previously recognized inalienability of communal property.

This article is part of the 40th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Nicaragua is currently going through a profound human rights crisis, marked by the establishment of a regime of economic and political concentration of power. For Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant communities, this situation has resulted in the usurpation of their lands and territories,^[1] leading to a lack of natural resources essential for their subsistence.^[2] More specifically, it is reflected in patterns of violence, invasion, usurpation, extractive activities, criminalization of leadership^[3] and regressive legal reforms, which together represent the implementation of a policy of forced assimilation and internal colonization.

This situation has been documented by the Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua,^[4] which has pointed out that these peoples are subject to structural and systematic violence because the government considers them an obstacle to consolidating its interests and has therefore has made them a target of repression.^[5] The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) titled its 2025 report “Violence against Indigenous and Afro-descendant Peoples of the Caribbean Coast in Nicaragua”,^[6] while the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OCHCR) emphasized that the implementation of a policy of assimilation and internal colonization not only undermines the peace and security of these peoples but threatens their very existence.^[7]

Multilateral isolation and submission to China

During 2025, the Nicaraguan regime increased its isolation and disregard for its human rights obligations by rejecting accountability mechanisms in international forums: it was absent from the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) on Nicaragua^[8] and from all activities  related to the UN Human Rights Council,^[9] the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),^[10] the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).^[11]

Alongside this isolation, the regime has been seeking to consolidate its geopolitical alliance with China by offering Special Economic Zones (SEZ).^[12] In 2025 alone, the regime granted mining concessions to 12 Chinese companies, comprising 6.3% of the national territory.^[13] This is in addition to the 25% of the national territory already under concession.^[14] All this without considering the environmental, social and cultural cost of gold mining for local communities throughout the country or for the Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant communities of the Autonomous Regions of the Caribbean Coast (RACC).^[15]

Regressive legal reforms

To facilitate the concentration of political and economic power, and in violation of international human rights law, as well as to the detriment of the peace and security of these peoples, the regime failed to consult on constitutional reforms (Law No. 1234)^[16] that subordinate municipal and RACC bodies to central government. At the same time, it reduced previously recognized communal property rights.^[17] Meanwhile, the so-called Law on Environmental Conservation Areas and Sustainable Development (Law No. 1248)^[18] eliminated the obligation to consult communities and authorized mining activities within legally protected areas, prioritizing corporate interests over health,^[19] food security and Indigenous self-determination. In addition, the Border Territories Law (Law No. 1258)^[20] confiscated almost 19,000 km² within a radius of 15 km of the border, in violation of the inalienability of communal property established in Laws No. 28^[21] and No. 445.^[22]

No consultation and, therefore, no Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)

Mining concessions are granted hastily and confer exclusive rights on companies for 25 years, renewable for a further 25.^[23] They are granted without technical studies^[24] and without consultation processes and do not therefore obtain the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) of the affected communities, despite the fact that ministerial agreements mandate negotiations with the landowners.^[25] From a legal point of view, it could thus be argued that they are null and void.^[26]

In addition, the regime has developed several patterns to avoid properly consulting the communities:

First, it co-opts some members of the Indigenous or Afro-descendant Territorial and/or Communal Governments –mainly the presidents– obtaining their signatures through flattery or threats and thus bypassing the participation of the community assemblies that form the highest territorial and communal authority.^[27]

Second, the Autonomous Regional Councils of the Caribbean Coast (CRACC) refuse to certify the authorities legitimately elected by the communities according to their customs, traditions and/or internal statutes,^[28] and instead arbitrarily certify, in full or in part, Territorial and/or Communal Governments made up of public officials and/or members and operators of the central government party, in order to facilitate the usurpation of natural resources in Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories.

Third, the regime has repeatedly and illegally used the approval of the CRACC (state institutions which, according to Article 181 paragraph 3 of the Political Constitution, must also approve concessions) as a replacement for the FPIC of the affected communities; this was expressly rejected by the Inter-American Court in the Case of the Rama and Kriol Peoples and the CNCIB vs. Nicaragua.^[29]

Artisanal mining as a spearhead

The drive for internal migration of non-indigenous people, settlers known as “colonos”, into Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories has played a decisive role in the invasions, usurpations, environmental depredation and extractivism. These dynamics destroy soils, forests, water quality and cause a loss of biodiversity in Indigenous and Afro-descendant territories, as well as in areas that were previously legally protected.^[30] Under the protection of the companies and the regime,^[31] armed settlers plus artisanal miners or güiriseros invade Indigenous communities with total impunity,^[32] subject women and girls to sexual abuse, and usurp the gold deposits (as was the case of the Kiwakumbaih massacre),^[33] which leads to forced displacement.^[34]

Conclusion

Concessions granted without consultation –and therefore without FPIC– and without technical studies, together with armed violence from settlers and güiriseros, form the backbone of the policy of forced assimilation and internal colonization of Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant communities. Such actions nullify the self-determination of these peoples, resulting in a loss of control over their traditional territories. This affects their right to life and dignity, threatening their peace and security and, consequently, their existence as peoples.

Dr. María Luisa Acosta is coordinator for the Centre for Legal Assistance to Indigenous Peoples (CALPI). Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; https://www.calpi-nicaragua.com/

This article is part of the 40th edition of The Indigenous World, a yearly overview produced by IWGIA that serves to document and report on the developments Indigenous Peoples have experienced. Find The Indigenous World 2026 in full here

Notes and references

^[1] “Nuevas concesiones mineras ‘significan la muerte’, claman Pueblos Indígenas y Afrodescendientes de Nicaragua”. 100% Noticias, 30 September 2025. https://100noticias.tv/especiales/142551-concesiones-mineras-muerte-pueblos-indigenas/ See also, “Chinos reciben concesión minera en Nicaragua. Indígenas advierten ‘amenaza existencial’ a su cultura”. Nicaragua Investiga, 31 July 2023. https://nicaraguainvestiga.com/nacion/127108-empresa-china-concesion-minera-nicaragua/

^[2] Nicaragua has 130,244 km² of land area. Between 2005 and 2019, the State recognized Indigenous and Tribal Peoples or Afro-descendant communities’ ancestral and historical rights to 38,426 km² of land in the RACCN and RACCS, granting full domain titles in favour of these peoples in 23 territories, covering 31.9% of the country's territory. Indigenous Peoples and Afro-descendant communities in these regions make up 13% of the national population.

^[3] “Del bosque a la celda: indígenas miskitos y mayangnas sufren tortura y aniquilación cultural en las cárceles Ortega-Murillo”. Medium, 3 August 2025. //medium.com/@udjnicaragua/del-bosque-a-la-celda-ind%C3%ADgenas-miskitos-y-mayangnas-sufren-tortura-y-aniquilaci%C3%B3n-cultural-7f5d86007f54">https://medium.com/@udjnicaragua/del-bosque-a-la-celda-ind%C3%ADgenas-miskitos-y-mayangnas-sufren-tortura-y-aniquilaci%C3%B3n-cultural-7f5d86007f54

^[4] UNO. Violaciones y abusos de los derechos humanos de los Pueblos Indígenas y afrodescendientes de la Costa Caribe de Nicaragua. Group of Experts on Human Rights in Nicaragua, 10 September 2024.https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/hrcouncil/grhe-nicaragua/a-hrc-55-crp-7-sp.pdf

^[5] Ibidem, para. 394.

^[6] IAHCR. “CIDH publica informe sobre violencia contra Pueblos Indígenas y Afrodescendientes de la Costa Caribe en Nicaragua”. 30 October 2025. https://www.oas.org/es/CIDH/jsForm/?File=/es/cidh/prensa/comunicados/2025/220.asp&utm_content=country-nic&utm_term=class-inft

^[7] UNO. Human rights situation in Nicaragua. Report of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. 15 August 2025, para. 82. https://docs.un.org/en/A/HRC/60/92

^[8] ISHR. “Nicaragua: organizaciones se pronuncian ante la decisión del Estado de retirarse del Consejo de Derechos Humanos y ausentarse del Examen Periódico Universal”. 26 March 2025. https://ishr.ch/es/ultimas-noticias/nicaragua-organizaciones-se-pronuncian-ante-la-decision-premeditada-del-estado-de-nicaragua-de-retirarse-del-consejo-de-derechos-humanos-y-ausentarse-del-examen-periodico-universal/

^[9] “Misiva de Nicaragua al Presidente del Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU”. El 19 Digital, 27 February 2025. https://www.el19digital.com/articulos/ver/161726-misiva-de-nicaragua-al-presidente-del-consejo-de-derechos-humanos-de-la-onu

^[10] “Nicaragua abandona la Unesco en protesta por el premio al diario 'La Prensa'”. France 24, 4 May 2025. https://www.france24.com/es/am%C3%A9rica-latina/20250504-nicaragua-abandona-la-unesco-en-protesta-por-el-premio-al-diario-la-prensa

^[11] “Nicaragua se retira de Organización Internacional de Trabajo y Organización Internacional para las Migraciones”. El 19 Digital, 28 February 2025. https://www.el19digital.com/articulos/ver/161758-nicaragua-se-retira-de-organizacion-internacional-de-trabajo-y-organizacion-internacional-para-las-migraciones

^[12] Nicaragua, Law 1264, Law Creating the Special Economic Zones of the Belt and Road. La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 203, 31 October 2025. http://digesto.asamblea.gob.ni/consultas/util/pdf.php?type=rdd&rdd=nabYpc6VCA0%3D. See also: “Laureano Ortega pide a los chinos aprovechar las recién creadas Zonas Económicas Especiales”. La Prensa, 7 November 2025. https://www.laprensani.com/2025/11/07/economia/3557846-laureano-ortega-pide-a-los-chinos-aprovechar-las-recien-creadas-zonas-economicas-especiales

^[13] “La dictadura sigue el festín y entrega nueva concesión a otra minera china desconocida”. La Prensa, 17 December 2025. https://www.laprensani.com/2025/12/17/politica/3576992-la-dictadura-sigue-el-festin-y-entrega-nueva-concesion-a-otra-minera-china-desconocida

^[14] The 25% estimate is the sum of 14.6% of concessions granted by the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), 6.73% requested from the MEM and 5.37% in the Mining Reserve. See also: Lista de Solicitudes y de Concesiones otorgadas por el Ministerio de Energía y Minas del 2 de agosto de 2024. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DaUGKWhcD_CfC2EaFXZK_am6QnS3I3NW/view?usp=sharing.

^[15] “Depredación inminente: ‘El dragón rojo‘ que devora todo babea sobre Nicaragua”. Onda Local, 19 December 2025. https://ondalocalni.com/multimedia/192-china-depredacion-inminente-el-dragon-rojo-babea-sobre-nicaragua/

^[16] Nicaragua, Law No. 1234, Law of Partial Amendment to the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua, arts. 132 and 133. Approved on 30 January 2025. Published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 32, 18 February 2025. http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/normaweb.nsf/3133c0d121ea3897062568a1005e0f89/2798fee6dacd52b506258c360051e856?OpenDocument. See also: Montalván C., William J. “Inconstitucional, ilegítima e inconvencional: la “nueva” Constitución de Nicaragua”. Agenda Estado de Derecho, 10 April 2025, https://agendaestadodederecho.com/la-nueva-constitucion-de-nicaragua/ y OAS. “Statement from the OAS General Secretariat on the Proposed Constitutional ‘Reform’ in Nicaragua”. 20 November 2024. https://www.oas.org/en/media_center/press_release.asp?sCodigo=E-091/24

UNO. “La nueva reforma a la Constitución de Nicaragua tendrá consecuencias nefastas para los derechos humanos”. 25 November 2024. https://news.un.org/es/story/2024/11/1534611

IACHR. “Nicaragua: IACHR condemns constitutional amendments that eliminates democratic checks and balances 27 November 2024. https://www.oas.org/en/iachr/jsForm/?File=/en/iachr/media_center/preleases/2024/295.asp&utm_content=country-nic&utm_term=class-mon

“Declaración de las organizaciones sobre la reforma constitucional en Nicaragua”. PBI Nicaragua, 11 December 2024. https://pbi-nicaragua.org/es/noticias/pronunciamiento-de-organizaciones-sobre-la-reforma-constitucional-en-nicaragua

^[17] See supra note XIV, Law No. 1234. Article 181 of the Reform converts Indigenous and Tribal Peoples into simple usufructuaries, despite having granted them "Full Title of Dominion over Communal Property", recognizing them the rights of "dominion, possession, occupation and usufruct", for which reason the Reform represents a confiscation of the property rights of these peoples, by guaranteeing them only the usufruct. See also: “Dictadura ‘cocina‘ reformas encaminadas al saqueo de territorios indígenas”. Onda Local, 9 May 2025. https://ondalocalni.com/noticias/3138-dictadura- cocina-reformas-encaminadas-saqueo-territorios-indigenas/

^[18] Law 1248, the Law on Environmental Conservation Areas and Sustainable Development, approved on 6 May 2025, authorizes mining activities within legally protected areas. http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/Normaweb.nsf/3133c0d121ea3897062568a1005e0f89/4284960a1789319806258c830051d0bf?OpenDocument

^[19] “Mujeres indígenas de Perú y Nicaragua enfrentan la contaminación por mercurio en la minería de oro a pequeña escala”. RAP-Al Uruguay, 17 October 2025 https://www.rapaluruguay.org/articulos-publicaciones/mujeres-indigenas-de-peru-y-nicaragua-enfrentan-la-contaminacion-por-mercurio-en-la-mineria-de-oro-a-pequena-escala/

^[20] Nicaragua, Law No. 1258, Border Territory Law, approved on 5 August 2025. Published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 144, 6 August 2025. http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/normaweb.nsf/3133c0d121ea3897062568a1005e0f89/ff894c83c8fe637306258cde0057d9da?OpenDocument See also: Selser, Gabriela. “Nicaragua blinda fronteras y concesiones mineras chinas”. DW, 20 August 2025. https://www.dw.com/es/nicaragua-blinda-fronteras-y-protege-concesiones-mineras-chinas/a-73696692

^[21] Law No. 28, Statute of Autonomy of the Regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua with its Incorporated Reforms. Published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 155, 18 August 2016. http://legislacion.asamblea.gob.ni/normaweb.nsf/b92aaea87dac762406257265005d21f7/adc835620b6bb306062580180059df9d

^[22] Law of Communal Property Regime of the Indigenous Peoples and Ethnic Communities of the Autonomous Regions of the Atlantic Coast of Nicaragua and of the Bocay, Coco, Indio and Maíz Rivers. Law 44.5 Published in La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 16, 23 January 2003. https://www.calpi-nicaragua.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Ley-445-2.pdf

^[23] Clause 5 of Ministerial Agreement No-056-SBT-M-053-2025. La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 184, 7 October 2025. http://digesto.asamblea.gob.ni/consultas/util/pdf.php?type=rdd&rdd=klc1%2BqQBPHg%3D

^[24] Ibid., Clause No. 4.

^[25] “Prior to carrying out any mining activity, to request permission from the owners of the land located within the area of the Concession; as well as to negotiate and agree with them the terms and indemnities for the use of the land and infrastructure of private property where the corresponding works are to be developed.” Clause 2 numeral 7 of Ministerial Agreement No-056-SBT-M-053-2025. La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 184, 7 October 2025. http://digesto.asamblea.gob.ni/consultas/util/pdf.php?type=rdd&rdd=klc1%2BqQBPHg%3D

^[26] See supra notes XV, XX and XXI. As established in the Political Constitution of Nicaragua (Arts. 9, 89, 180 para. 2, and 181 para. 1) and Laws No. 28 (Art. 9, 11 numerals 3, 4 and 6, Art. 15, and 36) and no. 445 (Art. 17).

^[27] See supra note XXI, Law 445, art. 4 and 5.

^[28] Ibid. arts. 6 to 9.

^[29] I/A Court H.R. Case of the Rama and Kriol Peoples, Black Creole Indigenous Community of Bluefields et al. vs. Nicaragua. Judgment of 1 April 2024 (Merits, Reparations and Costs). Paras. 61 to 65. https://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_522_esp.pdf

^[30] “Cuatro grandes asentamientos de minería ilegal instalados en Reserva Indio Maíz tras el incendio de 2018”. Confidencial, 2 April 2025. https://confidencial.digital/reporte-ciudadano/cuatro-grandes-asentamientos-de-mineria-ilegal-instalados-en-reserva-indio-maiz-tras-el-incendio-de-2018/

^[31] The Ministerial Agreements granting the concessions encourage access to the mining concession and the practice of artisanal mining within it and even require the concession holder to draw up a list of artisanal miners or güiriseros working within the concession lot. Clause 2, paragraphs 8 and 12 of the Ministerial Agreement. La Gaceta, Official Gazette No. 184, 7 October 2025. http://digesto.asamblea.gob.ni/consultas/util/pdf.php?type=rdd&rdd=klc1%2BqQBPHg%3D

^[32] “Infierno en Tierra Sagrada, etnocidio y despojo contra los pueblos indígenas de Nicaragua”. Artículo 66, 25 August 2025. https://www.articulo66.com/2025/09/25/infierno-en-tierra-sagrada/

^[33] “Nicaragua: policía encubre a colonos y culpa a indígenas por masacre del 23 de agosto”. Expediente Público, 8 September 2021. https://www.expedientepublico.org/nicaragua-policia-encubre-a-colonos-y-culpa-a-indigenas-por-masacre-del-23-de-agosto/ See also: Familiares de víctimas piden que investiguen a colonos por la masacre indígena en Bosawás”. Expediente Público, 10 September 2021. https://www.expedientepublico.org/familiares-de-victimas-piden-que-investiguen-a-colonos-por-la-masacre-indigena-en-bosawas/

^[34] “Mujeres indígenas: cuerpos como campos de guerra en medio del despojo”. Artículo 66, 29 November 2025. https://www.articulo66.com/2025/09/29/mujeres-indigenas-cuerpos-como-campos-de-guerra/ CETCAM. Agenda de acción para la protección de mujeres indígenas. September 2024. https://www.cetcam.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Diptico_Esp.pdf

Tags: Land rights, Human rights, Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Defenders