The Vatican has closed its embassy in Nicaragua, citing the government’s crackdown on protesters.
The decision was made by Pope Francis in response to the “serious violations of human rights” in the Central American country.
The embassy had been open since the 1980s and had served as a mediator between the government and the protesters.
Since the protests began in April 2018, hundreds of people have been killed and thousands have been arrested in the violence that has ensued.
The embassy closure follows the Vatican’s recall of its ambassador to Nicaragua in October.
The Vatican had been trying to broker a peaceful solution to the unrest, but negotiations between the government and the protesters have stalled.
The Vatican’s decision to close its embassy is a clear sign of its disapproval of President Daniel Ortega’s handling of the crisis.
