Deadly Nicaragua protests

This item appears on page 18 of the June 2018 issue.

Beginning on April 18 and continuing as of press time, throughout Nicaragua as many as 40 people were killed, including one police officer, and more than 100 were wounded in clashes with police while protesting proposed pension reforms. The protests were started by pensioners, who soon were joined by students and workers. During the unrest, protesters damaged government buildings, setting some on fire. 

Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, agreed to toss out the reforms on April 23. However, protests and civil unrest were expected to continue indefinitely. On April 23, due to the ongoing violence, the US Department of State evacuated the families of consular workers in Nicaragua.