Nicaragua orders the closure of 1,500 individual organizations, many of which focus on aid or human rights, with immediate effect.
The order from the Central American republic's government came on Monday and appears to take effect immediately.
The order came days after a parliamentary decision was adopted, stating that only organizations that "enter into partnerships" with state agencies are allowed to operate in the country.
The decision is seen as part of the government's efforts to suppress all opposition.
President Daniel Ortega, once the leader of the left-wing Sandinista rebels, and the country's government have imprisoned hundreds of opposition members in recent years. Furthermore, the regime has already shut down several organizations, including Nicaragua's Red Cross and several Catholic aid groups, since regime-critical protests gained strength in 2018.
