Nicaragua

Nicaragua is one of the countries that we were really looking forward to. Fire-spitting volcanoes, colonial cities, the coffee region in the north, canyons, lagoons and the world’s largest volcanic island in a lake promised variety and adventure in the largest country in Latin America.

In the 1980s, we collected toys and school supplies in the GDR and donated them to our socialist befriended country. Nicaragua has had an eventful history. Like most other Latin American countries, Nicaragua was a colony and gained its independence from Spain in 1821. In the 20th century, however, Nicaragua’s politics and economy were completely controlled by the USA. A civil war brought the country 43 years of dictatorship by the US-backed Somoza family.

In 1977, the people liberated themselves from the rule of the Somozas in a revolution and the socialist Sandinistas came to power. Further constant interventions by the USA, boycotts of foreign companies and, as a result, a renewed civil war in the 1980s made Nicaragua one of the poorest countries on the continent. Peace did not return until 1988. But even in the next two decades, the country was unable to recover due to constant changes in political power, corruption and the rearmament of the rebels. In addition, Hurricane Mitch destroyed large parts of the country in 1998.

Since 2006, Nicaragua has been ruled by Sandinista Daniel Ortega in his second term of office, who has since ensured that he will be re-elected for life through a constitutional reform. Since then, Nicaragua has been ruled by a populist, authoritarian government that also has complete control over the media and courts. Human rights violations are steadily increasing and the opposition is paralyzed. Economically, the country has recovered since the beginning of the 21st century, the infrastructure has greatly improved and tourism is growing.

Already the boarsder crossing into Nicaragua promised tension and nervousness, because the government does not tolerate any criticism, not even from outside. Tourists are strictly controlled, and their social media presence in particular is closely scrutinized. The import of drones, binoculars and larger camera equipment is prohibited, and vehicles have to pass through a scanner at the border. We had been preparing for this for a long time and were ready for country number 9 on this trip.