Biden targets Nicaraguan gold in new move against Daniel Ortega

Previous rounds of sanctions have focused on Mr Ortega, his wife and vice president, Rosario Murillo, and members of their family and inner circle

President Joe Biden speaks about student loan debt relief at Delaware State University, Friday, Oct. 21, The Biden administration is ratcheting up pressure on President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian rule in Nicaragua, banning Americans from doing business in the nation’s gold industry (Evan Vucci/AP/PA)

The Biden administration is ratcheting up pressure on President Daniel Ortega’s authoritarian rule in Nicaragua, banning Americans from doing business in the nation’s gold industry and stripping the US visas of 500 government insiders, US officials said.

The actions are the latest attempt by the US to hold the former Sandinista guerrilla leader accountable for his continued attacks on human rights and democracy in the Central American country as well his continued security cooperation with Russia.