U.S. Demands Release of Miskito Leader Brooklyn Rivera After Hospital Photos Show Critical Condition

GUATEMALA CITY — The United States on Friday renewed its call for Nicaragua to release Brooklyn Rivera, a Miskito Indigenous leader, after Nicaraguan authorities published photographs and a medical report showing him in critical condition and connected to a ventilator.

Rivera has been detained since Sept. 29, 2023, amid a broad government crackdown on dissent. His family and independent observers say he is being held for political reasons and that authorities have not publicly presented formal criminal charges against him.

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the treatment, posting on the social platform X that 'this repression, violence and inhumanity is abhorrent' and reiterating a demand for Rivera and all political detainees to be released unconditionally.

Government Report and Indigenous Response

On Wednesday, the Ortega-Murillo government released a medical report saying Rivera's condition is 'delicate,' that he is on mechanical ventilation and suffering multiple organ failure. The government also published photos that show an emaciated Rivera attached to multiple tubes in a hospital bed.

A coalition of Nicaraguan Indigenous organizations sharply criticized the authorities, calling the detention arbitrary and accusing the government of 'distorting the narrative' by suggesting Rivera was already gravely ill before his arrest. 'We know that who is responsible for this very grave situation that he is in, for the violations of human rights, is the Sandinista Ortega-Murillo regime,' the coalition told The Associated Press.

Context: Political Prisoners and Historical Tensions

According to the Mechanism for Recognition of Political Prisoners, at least 47 people remain detained in Nicaragua for political reasons. Hundreds more were jailed following anti-government protests in 2018, during which a severe crackdown killed hundreds and led to the detention of journalists, activists and opposition figures.

More than 200 political prisoners were released and sent to the United States in 2023; many reported isolation, physical and psychological abuse, and long-term health problems after their detention. Another 135 political prisoners were released and flown to Guatemala in 2024. Observers say transparency around releases has been limited despite a January government announcement that some detainees would be freed.

The Miskito community, concentrated along Nicaragua's northern Caribbean coast, has long been at odds with the Ortega administration. Rivera was prominent in resisting the Sandinista government in the late 1970s and 1980s, including participating in the U.S.-backed Contra movement and helping establish autonomous governance in the region. The area is rich in minerals such as gold and silver, making it strategically important for foreign investment, including from China.

Manuel Prado, vice president of the Miskitu American Organization, urged Rivera's immediate release and warned that the government may allow him to die in custody. The United States has said it does not recognize President Daniel Ortega's 2021 re-election and continues to pressure Nicaragua over human rights and political repression.

Note: This report draws on statements from family members, Indigenous groups, the U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, and monitoring organizations tracking political prisoners in Nicaragua.