Nicaragua emerges as strategic gateway, steers migrants away from Darien jungle trek

Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega has facilitated air travel, easing the perilous journey for migrants en route to the United States.

Nicaragua has positioned itself as a pivotal destination for migrants globally, seeking an alternative route to circumvent the treacherous Darien Gap jungle.

The recent grounding of a plane carrying 303 Indian migrants in France sheds light on Nicaragua’s strategic role in redirecting migration flows.

President Daniel Ortega’s government has strategically streamlined international air services, allowing migrants to fly directly to Nicaragua, subsequently avoiding the arduous Darien Gap route.

Manuel Orozco, a migration expert, revealed that the government’s collaboration with private companies in Dubai aimed to expedite paperwork processes for these flights.

Amidst the growing concerns, an Airbus A340 carrying potential trafficking victims was detained in Paris, exposing the intricate web of migration facilitated by Nicaragua.

Although passengers were determined to be traveling voluntarily, Indian police disclosed that hefty sums had been paid to agents to navigate them to the U.S. border.

Orozco alleges that Nicaragua, in a premeditated move, benefits financially from visa fees, tourist cards, and landing taxes, contributing to the worsening migration crisis towards the United States.

Despite Nicaragua’s silence on the matter, Liliana Bakayoko, representing the Romanian airline involved, asserts that the Nicaraguan government approved the passenger list before departure.

The process involves foreigners obtaining prior approval from immigration authorities.

The journey from Nicaragua typically involves migrants traveling through Honduras and Guatemala, then reaching Mexico’s southern border with the United States.

This alternative route allows them to sidestep the dangers of the Darien Gap, where criminal gangs, sexual violence, thick jungle, rivers, and wild animals pose significant threats.

Panamanian authorities report a drastic increase in the number of people making it through the jungle in 2023, with over half a million individuals surpassing the previous year’s figures.

Venezuelans, facing economic hardships, constitute a significant portion, along with Ecuadorans, Haitians, Cubans, Chinese, Vietnamese, Afghans, and Africans from various nations.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) notes a shift in migration trends, emphasizing the preference for air routes among Cuban and African migrants heading to Central America.

Nicaragua has also become a pivotal “springboard” for Cubans and Haitians, benefitting from visa requirements lifted in 2021.

Honduras witnesses a five-fold increase in arrivals from nations like Guinea, China, Senegal, India, Afghanistan, and Angola, crossing into the country from Nicaragua. Additionally, Colombia identifies a flow of African migrants arriving from Turkey, destined for Nicaragua, avoiding the perilous Darien Gap.

As the global migration landscape evolves, Nicaragua emerges as a strategic player, shaping the trajectory of migrants’ journeys and contributing to the ongoing challenges faced by nations grappling with immigration issues.