France and Nicaragua

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Political relations

In the 1980s, France refused to align with the policy of blockades and support for the “Contras”, counter-revolutionary groups supported by the United States.

There have been no bilateral political visits since 2018. France called for the release of arbitrarily detained persons in compliance with human rights and fundamental freedoms and for rule of law to be restored in the country.

On 15 December 2021, France delivered 827,190 doses of the Pfizer vaccine to Nicaragua as part of the COVAX mechanism.     

French presence in Nicaragua and Nicaraguan presence in France

  • French community in Nicaragua: 495 on consular register
  • Nicaraguan community in France: 552 on consular register

Visits

  • Ms Samantha Cazebonne, Senator for French nationals abroad, travelled to Nicaragua on 19 April 2024.
  • A delegation from the French Senate’s France-Mexico and Central America friendship group visited Managua in April 2018.
  • The French President’s Personal Envoy for Latin America and the Caribbean, Mr Jean-Pierre Bel, made a visit to Nicaragua from 26 to 29 March 2017, during which he was received by President Ortega and the Foreign Minister, Mr Denis Moncada.
  • France received a Nicaraguan economic delegation in November 2013. Mr Orlando Solórzano, the Nicaraguan Minister of the Economy, Industry and Trade, met, among others, Mr Benoît Hamon, French Minister Delegate for the Social, Mutually-Supportive Economy and Consumer Affairs.
  • The French Minister Delegate for Development, Mr Pascal Canfin, met with the Nicaraguan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Samuel Santos López (6 February 2013) and with President Ortega’s Special Adviser for National Development Policies, Mr Paul Oquist (19 November 2013). Mr Santos was received in Paris on 23 May 2013 by French Foreign Minister, Mr Laurent Fabius. 

Economic relations

Trade between France and Nicaragua is limited: in 2021, France had a trade deficit of €26 million, with €35 million in imports, over half of which was from fishery products (prawns), and €8.9 million in exports.

Exports from France to Nicaragua: €8.9 million in 2021
French imports from Nicaragua: €35 million in 2021

Cultural, scientific and technical cooperation

The Alliance Française in the Nicaraguan capital Managua is an important cultural centre, which had 872 French-language learners in 2022.

The Franco-Nicaraguan Lycée Victor Hugo in Managua taught 220 pupils in 2022-2023.

Each year, about 10 Nicaraguans work as Spanish-language teaching assistants in French schools.

In 2021-2022, there were 85 Nicaraguan students in French universities.
Since 1992, the Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) has been conducting scientific research on improving coffee plants in Matagalpa Department.  

Updated: 30 May 2024

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