Brooklyn Rivera, the 73-year-old founder of the YATAMA political party and a central figure in the struggle for Indigenous rights on Nicaragua’s Caribbean Coast, has died while in government custody. His passing on May 31, 2026, marks the end of a nearly three-year period of imprisonment that began with his arrest in September 2023.
Nicaraguan authorities have attributed the death to a bacterial infection, claiming that Rivera’s health had been compromised by a prior case of COVID-19. However, this official narrative has been met with significant skepticism.
Rivera’s family and international human rights organizations are actively disputing the government's account. Critics highlight that the administration provided little to no transparency throughout his detention, including restricted access to adequate medical care.
For decades, Rivera was a vocal critic of the Sandinista government, consistently advocating for the autonomy of Indigenous communities. His death is being characterized by international observers as a grave development in the ongoing pattern of state repression against political opposition and Indigenous leaders in Nicaragua.
