Nicaragua

1954-03-02

OFAC imposed sanctions on two of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega’s closest associates:  the Vice President of Nicaragua and First Lady, Rosario Maria Murillo De Ortega (Murillo), and Nestor Moncada Lau (Moncada), who has acted as a national security advisor to the President and Vice President. Moncada is being designated for acting for or on behalf of Vice President Murillo.  Moncada has been described as a national security advisor to President Ortega and Vice President Murillo, and has been relied upon to carry out their orders.  In addition, Moncada is an experienced former official of the State Security of the Ministry of Interior, with strong ties of loyalty to Ortega and Murillo.  Following Ortega’s return to power in 2007, Moncada reportedly assumed a prominent role as Ortega and Murillo’s liaison and FSLN Secretariat power operator over multiple Nicaraguan government entities.  Moncada disbursed payments to counter protesters on behalf of Ortega and Murillo and, through his various intelligence roles, worked to bribe and blackmail individuals to obtain their support or prevent them from voicing opposition to Ortega’s government.  In addition, Moncada has engaged in acts of corruption on behalf of Ortega and Murillo.  In at least one case, Moncada worked with President Ortega to cover up Ortega’s sexual conduct with a minor.

https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/sm554

2018-11-27

US

Executive Order 13851 of November 27, 2018 Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Situation in Nicaragua

OFAC country specific

Nicaragua

Blocking Property, Suspending Entry

• https://ofac.treasury.gov/faqs/topic/2581

On November 27, 2018, the President, invoking the authority of, inter alia, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (50 U.S.C. 1701–1706) (IEEPA), issued Executive Order 13851 (83 FR 61505, November 29, 2018) (E.O. 13851). In E.O. 13851, the President determined that the situation in Nicaragua, including the violent response by the Government of Nicaragua to the protests that began on April 18, 2018, and the Ortega regime's systematic dismantling and undermining of democratic institutions and the rule of law, its use of indiscriminate violence and repressive tactics against civilians, and its corruption leading to the destabilization of Nicaragua's economy, constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, and declared a national emergency to deal with that threat.