Félix Maradiaga is a Nicaraguan academic, human rights defender and former political prisoner, currently recognized as one of the main opposition voices to the Ortega regime.
After serving as Secretary General of Nicaragua’s Ministry of Defence (2002 – 2006), Felix dedicated himself to strengthening peace, democracy, and human rights in his country. He was the Director of the Institute of Strategic Studies and Public Policies (IEEPP, one of the top think tanks in Latin America according to the U-Penn Global Think Tank Index) and has led several civil society organizations.
Maradiaga is a widely published author on Central American Affairs and holds master’s degrees in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School and in Renewable Energy Engineering from the University of Barcelona. Felix is a member of the World Economic Forum and the Aspen Global Leadership Network. In 2016, Forbes Magazine named him one of Central America’s most influential people.
In 2021 Maradiaga announced his intention to run in Nicaragua’s Presidential Election. He was arrested in June of the same year, the third opposition candidate to be forcibly removed from the race.
On February 10, 2023, Maradiaga was released from prison after 611 days alongside 221 political prisoners. Released on the condition that he relinquish his Nicaraguan citizenship, he was expelled to the United States.
Despite being stateless, Maradiaga has not abandoned the people of Nicaragua as he continues the fight for human rights and democracy abroad.
