WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States (US) State Department announced Monday that it will restrict visa access for over 100 Nicaraguan officials and their family members following the death of a detained Indigenous leader.

Brooklyn Rivera, a renowned 73-year-old head of the Miskito people and former member of congress, was arrested in September 2023 by the left-wing, authoritarian government of President Daniel Ortega. It never stated publicly what the charges were.

Rivera’s death was announced May 31 by the Nicaraguan health ministry, which said his health failed because of a bacterial infection caused by the Covid-19 virus.