Sandinista veteran, Ortega ally, arrested in Nicaragua corruption probe

Sandinista commandant Bayardo Arce arrested amid corruption probe and governmental shake-up successful Nicaragua.

Nicaraguan authorities person arrested Bayardo Arce, a elder Sandinista fig and longtime economical advisor to President Daniel Ortega, amid an escalating interior purge wrong the country’s ruling elite.

According to Nicaraguan media, Arce, 76, was detained aboriginal Thursday greeting pursuing a raid by dozens of constabulary officers connected his location successful Managua. He had been nether location apprehension since Sunday, reports said.

The Attorney General’s Office, controlled by the Ortega government, announced Wednesday it had launched a corruption probe against Arce, accusing him of “illegal transactions and negotiations” related to properties and businesses allegedly tied to authorities interests. Prosecutors assertion Arce refused to cooperate oregon contiguous documentation erstwhile questioned.

His aide, Ricardo Bonilla, was arrested a time earlier for allegedly refusing to “render accounts”, officials added.

The Nicaraguan quality outlet Confidencial reported that Arce’s detention is portion of a broader purge being directed by Vice President Rosario Murillo, Ortega’s woman and co-ruler, with the president’s afloat support. Sources adjacent to the exiled absorption judge Murillo is consolidating powerfulness successful mentation for succession, arsenic Ortega’s wellness visibly deteriorates.

In caller nationalist appearances, Ortega, present 79, has appeared frail and unsteady. He is reported to endure from lupus and kidney failure, raising speculation astir who whitethorn yet regenerate him.

Arce is the 3rd salient Sandinista seasoned to beryllium placed nether location apprehension this year. Henry Ruiz, different historical commander, was confined successful March. Humberto Ortega, the president’s member and a erstwhile service chief, was nether akin restrictions earlier his decease successful September 2024.

Arce and Daniel Ortega were adjacent comrades during the 1979 Sandinista gyration that toppled United States-backed dictator Anastasio Somoza. After decades successful and retired of power, Ortega returned to the presidency successful 2007 and has remained successful bureau done successive elections that galore person criticised arsenic undemocratic.

The arrests person sent a chilling connection crossed Nicaragua’s governmental landscape, peculiarly among seasoned revolutionaries who erstwhile stood alongside Ortega and are present facing marginalisation oregon detention.

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies