Nicaragua: Biden Administration Targets Country's Gold in New Move vs. Daniel Ortega Regime

By Rick Martin Oct 24 2022, 22:12 PM EDT

As the Daniel Ortega regime continues its oppression of dissidents, including political opponents, the media, and the Catholic Church, the Biden administration has increased the pressure on Nicaragua, especially on its gold mining industry.

Nicaragua is one of the poorest countries in South America, but it still has one of its largest gold mining industries. According to a report by the Associated Press, the United States is threatening to ban Americans from doing business in the nation's lucrative gold industry. This may mean that Nicaragua might face possible trade restrictions, as well as U.S. visas being stripped from around 500 government insiders.

Pres. Joe Biden Signs Most Aggressive Move on Nicaragua and the Daniel Ortega Regime Yet

Mining Technology reported that President Joe Biden has now signed Executive Order 13851, which "bars any dealings by U.S. assets with the designated parties."

The E.O. grants the Treasury Department "the authority to target certain persons that operate or have operated in the gold sector of the Nicaraguan economy."

This means that several state-run companies, including Empresa Nicaraguense de Minas (Eniminas) and its board president, have been sanctioned by the United States. It was noted that the company has had growing ties with Russia as it continues its invasion of Ukraine.

The United States Treasury Department also blasted the Ortega-Murillo regime for rigging last year's presidential elections by imprisoning every candidate who ran to oppose Daniel Ortega, as well as "blocking all other political parties, shuttering of independent media, and the bullying of civil society."

The Treasury Department also stated that the gold revenue made by Eniminas is being used to repress the Nicaraguan people. It also poses a "threat to the security of the hemisphere."

According to Al Jazeera, this is the latest round of sanctions Biden has levied on the Nicaraguan government in recent months. These sanctions include U.S. visa restrictions on Nicaraguan officials and their relatives.

Repression Continues in Nicaragua Under Daniel Ortega and His Wife

The Nicaraguan dictator has moved to take out all opposition to his and his wife's rule in the country, starting with last year's presidential elections. Ortega won his fourth term as president, while his wife, Rosario Murillo, won the vice presidency. However, they did so without any single opponent because Ortega threw them all into prison.

Those who were not aligned with Ortega but were elected democratically were also forced out of office and replaced with members of Ortega's Sandinista party.

Ortega's crackdown on dissent has seen many jailed under horrific conditions while journalists and other political figures were forced into exile. Many have fled to nearby Costa Rica, while others went to the United States.

Ortega also has a row with the Roman Catholic Church, as he expelled the top Vatican diplomat and nuns doing missionary and charitable works and imprisoned a prominent bishop.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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