world 31 May 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Indigenous Leader Brooklyn Rivera Dies in Nicaraguan State Custody
Nicaraguan indigenous leader and former lawmaker Brooklyn Rivera has reportedly died in state custody at the age of 73, following his arrest in September 2023 amidst a government crackdown on dissent. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/nicaraguan-indigenous-leader-brooklyn-rivera-dies-in-state-custody-news-outlet-reports-5479998
Brooklyn Rivera, a prominent indigenous leader and former legislator in Nicaragua, has died while in state custody, according to reports from the 100% Noticias news service, citing family sources. The 73-year-old’s death comes after the government confirmed his detention last week, following persistent demands for proof of life from his family, the United States, and United Nations officials.
Rivera was apprehended in September 2023 as part of a broader government campaign against political opposition. Human rights organizations have noted that Rivera was a sitting lawmaker at the time of his arrest. His family has stated that the government failed to formally acknowledge his detention and consistently denied visitation requests.
Last week, Nicaragua’s Interior Ministry released photographs of Rivera showing him severely emaciated, intubated, and bedridden. The ministry detailed his critical condition, citing “multiple organ failure, a cirrhotic liver and an active lung infection,” necessitating mechanical ventilation and intravenous feeding.
The U.S. Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs condemned the government’s statement, alleging it was an attempt to evade responsibility for Rivera’s “cruel treatment and current condition.”
Rivera had a long history of political activism, initially fighting against Nicaragua’s Sandinista government in the 1980s. His political party, Yatama, once an opposition force, later realigned itself as an ally to President Daniel Ortega after Ortega’s return to power in 2007.