Brazil expels Nicaraguan ambassador in retaliatory move

SAO PAULO — The Brazilian government expelled Nicaragua’s ambassador to the nation on Thursday in retaliation for a similar measure by the Central American country. president daniel ortega.

The press office of the Brazilian Foreign Ministry confirmed to The Associated Press that it had decided to expel the Nicaraguan ambassador, Fulvia Patricia Castro Matu. He said Brazil’s ambassador to Nicaragua, Breno da Costa, was expelled on Monday.

The office said da Costa was expelled for not attending celebrations marking the 45th anniversary of Nicaragua’s Sandinista revolution. Ortega, whose critics see him as an authoritarian leader, was a guerrilla in that movement.

An ongoing rift between Ortega and the president of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silvatwo former allies, has grown over the last year.

Two diplomatic sources in Brasilia told the AP that the Nicaraguan government protested da Costa’s absence from the festivities two weeks ago, paving the way for him to be expelled. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, added that the Brazilian ambassador was following orders from the Foreign Ministry.

The Foreign Ministry had not previously confirmed local media reports about the expulsion of the Brazilian ambassador.

Lula, who previously supported Ortega’s presidency, distanced himself from Ortega after the Nicaraguan leader ignored a request from Pope Francis to stop repression against Catholic clerics in the Central American nation.

Brazil has frozen relations with the Central American country. That means there will be no visits or meetings between leaders and diplomats of the two countries.

Leticia Bessa, administrative assistant at the Nicaraguan embassy in Brazil’s capital, said Matu left the country before Brazil’s Foreign Ministry finalized its decision.

Nicaraguan Vice President Rosario Murillo, who is also first lady and chief government spokesperson, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the diplomatic dispute.

During a press conference with international news agencies in Brasilia on July 22, Lula told reporters that Ortega was not answering his phone calls.

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Associated Press writer Gabriela Sá Pessoa contributed to this report from Sao Paulo.