U.S. imposes new sanctions aimed at pressuring Nicaragua's Ortega (updated)

Condor Energies

24/10/2022 16:49

(Recasts with U.S. Treasury statement)
       Oct 24 (Reuters) - 
    U.S. President Joe Biden's administration ratcheted up
economic pressure on Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega's
government on Monday through a series of steps targeting the
country's gold industry and other sectors.
        Biden signed an executive order that includes banning
U.S. companies from doing business in Nicaragua's gold industry,
while U.S. Treasury Department designated the head of
Nicaragua's mining authority, along with another top government
official, the department said in a statement. 
  
        The order's expanded sanctions powers could also be used
to block new U.S. investment in certain sectors in Nicaragua,
importation of certain Nicaraguan products or the exportation of
certain items to Nicaragua, it added.
  
        "The Ortega-Murillo regime’s continued attacks on
democratic actors and members of civil society and unjust
detention of political prisoners demonstrate that the regime
feels it is not bound by the rule of law," Under Secretary of
the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian
Nelson said. He said the U.S. actions aimed to deny them "the
resources they need to continue to undermine democratic
institutions in Nicaragua."
  
    The Associated Press first reported the measures.
 (Reporting by Tyler Clifford and Susan Heavey; Editing by Doina
Chiacu)
 ((tyler.clifford@thomsonreuters.com;))