NicaNotes

June 18, 2026

This week, NicaNotes includes below, along with our usual article and Briefs, an important statement on Venezuela from the Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition of which the Alliance for Global Justice/Nicaragua Network is a member. Read the statement in Spanish here.

Nicaragua Solidarity Coalition Reaffirms its Support for Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution and Opposes all U.S. Interference
June 11, 2026

Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution is facing an unprecedented situation following the illegal U.S. invasion of Venezuela and abduction of its democratically elected president, Nicolas Maduro, and First Lady Cilia Flores on January 3, 2026. Since then, the U.S. has kept in place the crippling economic coercive measures (“sanctions”), estimated to have already caused over 100,000 excess deaths in Venezuela, while threatening further military aggression.

The U.S. empire has also intensified its campaign of psychological warfare. This not only includes the old tactic of blaming the Revolution for the impacts of sanctions, but now targeting the Revolution’s supporters with rumors of betrayal spread through the media and social media. This U.S. tactic, which has been similarly employed elsewhere around the world, is intended to divide the Venezuelan people, sow despair, and demobilize revolutionary resistance and international solidarity.

We will not fall for these tricks. Chavistas–revolutionaries in Venezuela–remain unified in their opposition to U.S. imperialist aggression. The Revolution continues, albeit while facing its most challenging moments. The Venezuelan people know how best to defend their Revolution, as it belongs to them. Like Nicaragua’s Sandinistas, Chavistas have built political consciousness and deep organization while steeped in decades of struggle.

For international solidarity, our primary role is to expose and fight against the ongoing violence and coercion the U.S. has imposed on Venezuela before and since January 3. We demand that the U.S. government and the forces of imperialism keep their Hands Off Venezuela! Our responsibility is to organize actively to oppose imperialist interference from wherever we are, particularly in the imperial core.

For this reason, we continue to prioritize the campaign to liberate kidnapped President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores from the U.S. prison where they are being illegally held as political prisoners, and to oppose and condemn all unilateral coercive measures that violate Venezuela’s sovereignty and right to self-determination.

US Hands off Venezuela! End the Sanctions!

Free President Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores!

Long Live the Bolivarian Revolution!

Revolutionary Goals: Human Development and Poverty Reduction

By Stephen Sefton

(A naturalized Nicaraguan citizen, Stephen Sefton is a writer and community worker based in Nicaragua since 1994. Besides coordinating the web outlet Tortilla con Sal since 2008, he has supported community education and health programs in and around Estelí, where he lives, since 1996.)

The government of Co-Presidents Comandante Daniel Ortega and Compañera Rosario Murillo have demonstrated the high integrity and validity of socialist planning based on extensive local and national consultations which in effect decentralize and democratize the decision-making process.

The National Plans for Human Development and Poverty Reduction, developed on the basis of constant exchange with the different sectors of national life, incorporate a continuing process of innovation. The aftermath of the failed coup attempt of 2018, the devastating hurricanes Eta and Iota of November 2020 and Covid-19, demonstrated the agility of Nicaragua’s government team to adapt to new realities and urgent challenges.

Since January 2007, the innovation processes initiated by Comandante Daniel and Compañera Rosario have progressively deepened the implementation of Sandinismo’s historic program. Its development has been most evident first in the agricultural production sector and the inclusion of rural families with programs such as the Productive Bonus, in the exploration of non-traditional crops and the wide application of new techniques. Institutions such as the National Innovation and Technology Center (INTA) and the Institute for Agricultural Protection and Sanitation (IPSA) and the National Agrarian University have facilitated the healthy development of ways to reduce the adverse impact of diseases on plants and animals, to sustainably increase the yield of crops and fruits, for the healthy development of new derived products and, in the case of fisheries, best practices to increase the catch and to process and market fishery products.

Programs such as Usura Cero (Zero Usury) have ensured the increasing inclusion of women entrepreneurs in urban areas, an inclusion consolidated by initiatives such as the different Creative and Entrepreneurial Economy Programs and the promotion of national, regional and international tourism.  Advances in these sectors have improved marketing techniques, online business development, the creative design of new artisan products from materials such as bamboo, new ideas for textiles and greater use of recycled products.  These initiatives are constantly promoted at the local and national level through municipal fairs and national scientific and technological research and innovation days.

The biggest national conventions have been the hackathons that promote technological entrepreneurship based on the learning and implementation of new technologies. Since 2020, the National Technological Institute (INATEC) has inaugurated different innovation centers and innovation laboratories in the national technical education system.

The national strategy of the Ministry of Education (MINED) focusses on activities of innovation and creativity in learning and constant teacher training. MINED has taken optimal advantage of new technologies to increase the scope and quality of its education programs.

The most obvious example in this sense has been the development of the University in the Countryside that has been possible thanks to the creative capacity of the MINED in adapting innovation so as to ensure a truly revolutionary education in the country. The openness to new ideas has facilitated the updating of the curriculum at all levels and the strengthening of teacher training to achieve greater coherence in curriculum content and greater continuity in education processes. The adaptation to new technologies and scientific perspectives has also fostered greater coordination and exchange between the educational system and the productive sector and with private enterprise in general.

Public health is another area of national life that demonstrates how innovation processes enrich and strengthen the restitution of rights to the Nicaraguan people. The installation of linear accelerators for the treatment of cancers and other sophisticated equipment of all kinds, the recent advances in intrauterine fetal surgery and in cardiovascular surgeries and neurosurgeries among others, show that MINSA maintains a quality of health care among the best in the region or the world.

The consolidation of the maternal prenatal center system, the national vaccination system and the volunteer brigade system all result from MINSA’s commitment to opening up to constant exchange at the community level.

Nicaragua’s Family and Community Health Model has been exemplary as a model for the region and was recognized in 2024 by the Pan American Health Organization for its innovation in digital health. PAHO said, “Nicaragua stood out among 24 other countries, due to its leadership in working with the population, its demonstrated ability to mobilize resources, general and specialized knowledge, the challenges faced, the obstacles overcome and the novelty of the strategy’s approach, which serves as an example to other countries.”

Providing better services to the community is a fundamental element for the Sandinista government and is reflected in the introduction of administrative practices such as one-stop processes to be able to make payments more quickly and access online services more efficiently.

The authorities at both central and local levels in Nicaragua are working to become modern governmental institutions integrating new technologies to serve the population in an increasingly better way and to respond to their priority problems. This requires innovative and efficient coordination between municipal authorities and the institutions of central government via their departmental delegations, for example, from the Attorney General’s Office, the environmental ministry MARENA, the General Directorate of Revenue or INETER which monitors earthquakes and volcanic activity.

 

In fact, the commitment of the government of Comandante Daniel and Compañera Rosario to innovation with the objective of consolidating and deepening Nicaragua’s revolutionary democratization was expressed in the reform to the Constitution that created the figure of the CoPresidency. Compañera Rosario Murillo constantly emphasizes the importance of this revolutionary spirit, for example, when she explains “This is the meaning of the creative, family, community, victorious economy, this economy of the majority, which is fundamentally, basically, essentially and spiritually democratic, because it is the economy that encourages all of us as protagonists to move forward, to make our way learning, undertaking and prospering in our forever free Nicaragua.

Briefs

By Nan McCurdy

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Nicaragua Leading in Pediatric Neurosurgery

Nicaragua was the epicenter of specialized medicine in Latin America with the inauguration on June 10 of the International Intensive Course on Pediatric Neurosurgery, a medically significant event organized by the Ministry of Health (MINSA) in coordination with the International Society of Neurosurgery. The course, which took place on June 12 and 13 at the Fernando Vélez Paiz Hospital, was offered in a hybrid format, both in person and virtually. It featured the active participation of national neurosurgeons and intensive care specialists, as well as 80 neurosurgeons from Ecuador, Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. The teaching and keynote lectures were delivered by 11 renowned international experts in Pediatric Neurosurgery from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Italy, the United States, Costa Rica, and the host nation. Of these specialists, nine presented in person, and two via virtual platforms.

Dr. Carolina Cantarero, a pediatric neurosurgeon, emphasized that Nicaragua was chosen as the host country due to the remarkable progress and technological development the country has experienced in the health sector. She explained that neurosurgery in Nicaragua has made giant strides, especially in complex procedures such as skull base surgeries and epilepsy interventions. “Pediatric neurosurgery has reached spectacular levels. We are on par with the rest of Latin America and Central America, performing procedures that have never been done before. We have the best equipment and the best technology, thanks to the support of our country’s highest authorities, our Good Government Co-Presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. We continue to move forward,” stated Dr. Cantarero. Among the main topics on the agenda were brain tumors and congenital malformations; advanced treatment of hydrocephalus; fetal surgery; and medical management of cervical and cranial trauma. (La Primerisima, 12 June 2026)

Nicaragua Reducing Dependence on Fossil Fuels through Solar Energy

The recently inaugurated ENESOLAR 1 photovoltaic plant in Sebaco, Department of Matagalpa, marks a milestone in Nicaragua’s efforts toward energy efficiency and strengthening of water and sewage services. It is part of the transformation of Nicaragua’s energy mix, which has been reducing dependence on fossil fuels in order to move toward a model based on renewable energy. Solar energy generated during peak consumption hours is among the most cost-effective on the market, which helps reduce costs in the National Interconnected System and lower prices in the electricity markets.

The plant, built thanks to the solidarity-based cooperation between Nicaragua and the People’s Republic of China, represents an investment of US$90 million in state-of-the-art technology. With an installed capacity of 61,425 megawatts, the plant will cover 35% of the institution’s current energy consumption and that will ensure that families receive water of sufficient quality and quantity. The energy generated is for pumping operations, drinking water treatment, and wastewater treatment plants, improving service and contributing to environmental sanitation by returning treated water to the aquifer.

Juan Carlos Castaño, the legal representative for external oversight explained the technical operation: “A photovoltaic park is an electricity-generation plant where sunlight interacts with the photovoltaic cells. The panels are bifacial, capturing sunlight on both sides.” The park is organized into 17 photovoltaic arrays and covers 160 manzanas (276 acres) of land, with a multidisciplinary oversight team that ensures high quality standards. Castaño explained that the plant creates local jobs and boosts the economy of the municipality of San Isidro and surrounding communities in Matagalpa. He added that ENACAL is making significant progress in its transition toward energy efficiency and that these plants free up resources that will be allocated to new investment projects in water and sanitation, consolidating a development model centered on the well-being of the people. (Informe Pastran, 15 June 2026)

Dante Mossi: Nicaragua Makes the Best Use of Resources

The former president of the Central American Bank for Economic Integration (CABEI), Dante Mossi, highlighted Nicaragua’s leadership in the efficient use of the multilateral institution’s financial resources, as it recorded the highest portfolio disbursement in the region during the first half of 2026.  “CABEI data show that Honduras’s portfolio has seen no movement this year; overall, for a half-year period, this is a poor record for the region. Of course, there are exceptions: Nicaragua with US$177 million and El Salvador with US$133 million,” Mossi wrote on his X social media account. The former official emphasized that loans must generate real impact: “Loans that merely collect fees and interest without transforming a country’s infrastructure do not benefit it.”

Mossi highlighted the Nicaraguan model, which prioritizes the effective use of funds in productive infrastructure projects—including roads, energy, ports, and sanitation—that drive the country’s economic and social development. Nicaragua is establishing itself as the country that makes the best use of CABEI resources, converting financing into concrete projects that directly benefit families and strengthen the national economy. This assessment by Dante Mossi confirms Nicaragua’s strategic vision in managing multilateral cooperation prioritizing high-impact projects that promote sustainable development and economic sovereignty. (Informe Pastran, 15 June 2026)

Women’s Presence Strengthened in Technical Fields

The National Technological Institute (INATEC) highlighted a historic advance in gender equity in technical fields, achieving a balanced average of 40% female participation and 60% male participation. “Women are breaking stereotypes by entering in large numbers into traditionally male-dominated fields such as industrial automation, mechatronics, manufacturing, and systems engineering,” said Esmeralda Aguilar, INATEC’s deputy director of vocational training. Aguilar described INATEC’s training programs as a resounding success, after enrollment slots in various fields were completely filled during the first semester of the year. Given this massive interest from families in technical education, the institution is already preparing to open enrollment for the second academic semester of 2026, with classes scheduled to begin on July 13. Student interest for this second term is strongly focused on the industrial, commercial, and service sectors. The specializations with the highest number of applications and which are already fully enrolled at several centers include business administration, accounting, gastronomy, culinary arts, and restaurant, bar, and café service, automated electrical systems, construction, electronics, industrial mechanics, and automotive and motorcycle mechanics.

INATEC continues to adapt its programs to the realities of each region of the country. On the Caribbean Coast, for example, the Bluefields Technology Center will expand its Wood Products Manufacturing program—a unique program in the country designed to meet the region’s specific needs. Officials noted that technical education under this model is characterized by being 100% free, high-quality, and offering great flexibility for employment. The programs are directly linked to entrepreneurship, allowing graduates to start their own businesses or enter the job market immediately. (La Primerisima, 16 June 2026)

Nicaragua Reaffirms Solidarity with Bedouin Communities in Palestine In an expression of solidarity, commitment, and brotherhood with the Palestinian people, on June 10, Nicaraguan diplomats accredited to the State of Palestine joined a field visit to the Bedouin communities of the village of Khan Al-Ahmar. This visit, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the State of Palestine, represented by Minister Dr. Varsen Aghabekian Shahin, was also attended by the Ministers of Education, Women, and Labor, as well as the Deputy Minister for Jerusalem Affairs. Organizers said it was a show of direct support for “a community that symbolizes the resistance, dignity, and legitimate right of the Palestinian people to remain in their land.” During her remarks, Minister Aghabekian reaffirmed the Palestinian government’s firm commitment to continue supporting the Bedouin communities, strengthening their presence on their ancestral lands through all available means. She also urged the international community to fulfill its political, legal, humanitarian, and moral responsibilities toward the Palestinian people, by making visible to the world the practices, aggressions, and violations committed by Israel against Palestinian families, particularly the most vulnerable communities.  For his part, the village leader, Abu Imad, described the difficult situation facing the community, denouncing how settlers have prevented students from reaching their school, in addition to the burning of homes, the theft of livestock, and the use of armed violence—acts that have left numerous victims and worsened the living conditions of these families. At the end of the meeting, a tour of the community’s school was conducted, where the delegation was welcomed with cultural performances prepared by the children.

The Nicaraguan representative, Ambassador Gadiel Arce Mairena, conveyed “the firm, fraternal, and unwavering greetings of the courageous people and government of Nicaragua, presided over by our Co-Presidents, Commander Daniel Ortega and Comrade Rosario Murillo.” He emphasized that “Nicaragua is present in the very lands where the Palestinian People suffer, resist, and struggle, not as a mere formality, but as a concrete expression of Brotherhood, Solidarity, and Commitment to a People who represent the Dignity of the World.” (El 19, 10 June 2026)

Efforts to Combat Money Laundering and Related Activities Will Be Strengthened

The Office of the President formally submitted to the National Assembly a comprehensive draft bill aimed at strengthening the fight against money laundering and related illicit activities. During a plenary session, the bill was referred to the Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs for review, so that the committee may issue a report and the bill may be approved no later than June 18. The proposed bill includes strategic reforms and additions to a range of existing laws, with the aim of harmonizing and strengthening the country’s regulations on oversight and criminal prosecution. The following laws will be amended: Law No. 977: Law Against Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing, and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction; Law No. 976: Law on the Financial Analysis Unit (UAF);  Law No. 641: Penal Code of the Republic of Nicaragua; Law No. 406: Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Nicaragua; and Law No. 735: Law on the Prevention, Investigation, and Prosecution of Organized Crime and the Administration of Seized, Forfeited, and Abandoned Assets.

Through this initiative, the government seeks to update its financial and judicial intelligence tools, bringing them into line with international standards to prevent the national financial system from being used for illicit activities. (La Primerisima, 16 June 2026)