The government of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega arrested 17 opposition figures this month, including 5 presidential candidates.

A joint statement on Monday stated that Mexico and Argentina have recalled their ambassadors to Nicaragua for consultations in response to President Daniel Ortega’s increasingly severe suppression of the opposition.

Both countries hope to consult with their ambassadors on “worrisome political and legal actions taken by the Nicaraguan government in recent days that endanger the well-being and freedom of the people.” Various opposition figures [including presidential pre-candidates], Activists and Nicaraguan businessmen,” their Ministry of Foreign Affairs said. They want to promote dialogue with the Ortega government.

The statement said that Argentina and Mexico will continue to urge “full respect and promotion of human rights” and civil and political freedoms.

Mexico and Argentina broke with other countries in the region last week and did not vote for Resolution of the Organization of American States Condemned the recent arrests of major opposition figures in Nicaragua.

They offered to help promote dialogue to resolve the situation in the Central American country, which is scheduled to hold presidential elections in November.

The Nicaraguan authorities arrested 17 opposition figures this month, including 5 potential presidential candidates, which aroused condemnation from the international community and new sanctions by the United States.

📄Mexico and Argentina called their ambassador to Nicaragua for consultations.https://t.co/BPDYLQGNSG pic.twitter.com/Fx6tDDT30m

-Diplomatic Relations (@SRE_mx) June 21, 2021

According to the authorities, journalist and presidential candidate Miguel Mora were arrested at home on Sunday night on charges of “inciting foreign interference in internal affairs and demanding military intervention.”

The Nicaraguan government claimed that the detainees were “usurers” who were funded by the United States to overthrow Ortega.

The 75-year-old was in power in Nicaragua from 1979 to 1990, returned to power in 2007, and has won two consecutive terms since then.

It is widely expected that he will seek a fourth term in the upcoming November elections, although he has not yet confirmed that he will do so.