2018 Nicaraguan protests

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2018 Nicaraguan protests
Part of the 2014–2020 Nicaraguan protests
Situation of Nicaragua during the development of the protests (April 2018) Top to bottom: Protests in Managua, Nicaragua 2018. Large crowds demonstrating in Managua. A candlelight vigil held in respect to those killed.
Date	18 April 2018 – 17 July 2018
Location	Nicaragua
Caused by	Social security reform Corruption in Nicaragua Authoritarianism and police brutality of President Daniel Ortega
Goals	Cancellation of social reforms and Nicaragua Canal End of political violence and release of detained protesters Restoration of free speech in media outlets Reformation of the Supreme Electoral Council, including the resignation of all magistrates in duty End of femicides Concrete legal protection of indigenous people and indigenous lands Resignation of President Ortega and Rosario Murillo[1][2]
Status	Political Crisis in Nicaragua from 2018 to the present Political persecution of opponents Persecution and harassment of the Catholic Church and parishioners Forced exile and statelessness of several Nicaraguan citizens Sanctions from the European Union and the United States against key figures and institutions of the Regime of Daniel Ortega and his wife Sanctions from Swiss Government against key figures and instituciones of the Regime of Daniel Ortega and Wife Nicaragua's departure from the OAS and the expulsion of the international organization from Nicaraguan territory 88,000 Nicaraguans in exile Breaking of diplomatic relations between the Holy See and the Nicaraguan regime Confiscations of assets of political opponents Closure of Universities and Private educational institutions Creation of the Nica Act Creation Renacer Act The regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo expelled the International Committee of the Red Cross from Nicaraguan in December 2023.[3][4]
Concessions	Cancellation of social reforms
Parties
Opposition Students Movimiento 19 de Abril Superior Council for Private Enterprise Catholic Church MRS Government of Nicaragua National Police of Nicaragua FSLN Sandinista Youth Pro-Ortega paramilitaries
Lead figures
Students Private sector Superior Council for Private Enterprise Government of Nicaragua Daniel Ortega Rosario Murillo Aminta Granera Francisco Javier Díaz Madriz Martha Elena Ruiz Sevilla
Number
Hundreds of thousands[5] 45,000+ (23 April)[citation needed] 25,000+ (28 April)[6]
Casualties
Death(s)	325–568[7]
Injuries	2,800+[8][9]
Arrested	600+–1,500[10]

The 2018 Nicaraguan protests began on 18 April 2018 when demonstrators in several cities of Nicaragua began protests against the social security reforms decreed by President Daniel Ortega that increased taxes and decreased benefits. After five days of unrest in which nearly thirty people were killed, Ortega announced the cancellation of the reforms; however, the opposition has grown through the 2014–2018 Nicaraguan protests to denounce Ortega and demand his resignation, becoming one of the largest protests in his government's history^[11] and the deadliest civil conflict since the end of the Nicaraguan Revolution.^[12] On 29 September 2018, political demonstrations were declared illegal by President Ortega.^[13]