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The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures on April 5, 2026, in favor of Bayardo Arce Castaño, former presidential advisor on economic affairs, and his immediate family, after determining that the former guerrilla commander is in a situation of “seriousness and urgency” while in the custody of the Nicaraguan state.
Through Resolution 23/2026, the regional body called on the Government of Nicaragua to take immediate action to guarantee the life, physical integrity, and health of Arce, who has been detained since July 2025.
The IACHR’s decision is based on reports about Arce Castaño’s detention conditions. According to the petition submitted to the body, the beneficiary is being held under a regime of severe isolation, without access to specialized medical care for his chronic conditions—an especially critical factor given his age.
The autonomous body of the OAS noted that the lack of official information about his current condition and the limited contact with his family increase the risk of “irreparable harm.”
According to the IACHR, the Government of Nicaragua did not provide any information or respond to the Commission’s requests during the review process.
On March 22, 2026, the Ortega regime released a series of images of Bayardo Arce in which he appeared severely emaciated. Days earlier, the former presidential advisor’s six children had called—through a public letter—for “public proof of life” of the former member of the FSLN National Directorate.
Demands to the State
The IACHR’s binding resolution calls on Nicaraguan authorities to comply with the following measures:
- Immediate medical evaluation: Conduct a comprehensive examination and ensure access to medication and specialists.
- Adequate detention conditions: Ensure that the place of detention meets international standards for elderly individuals.
- End to harassment of family members: The IACHR identified a pattern of surveillance and intimidation against Arce’s close relatives and is demanding protective measures for them.
- Communication: Guarantee regular contact with lawyers and family members.
The Commission clarified that granting these measures does not prejudge the merits of a potential case involving violations of the American Convention, but rather serves as a preventive mechanism in response to an imminent risk.
Bayardo Arce joins a list of political figures for whom the IACHR has issued urgent pronouncements due to the lack of due process guarantees and inadequate health conditions within the country’s prison system.
At the end of January 2026, the Ortega regime’s judiciary sentenced Bayardo Arce for the alleged crime of “money laundering, in the form of defrauding the Nicaraguan state,” according to a statement from the Office of the Attorney General. In addition, all of his companies were shut down and all his assets were confiscated.
