The people of Germany and Nicaragua have enjoyed a close friendship for decades. This is partly due to the solidarity movements in both eastern and western Germany in the 1980s when the civil war was raging in Nicaragua. Some thirty town twinning partnerships and a large number of private initiatives (Nicaragua Associations) in Germany or the German‑Nicaraguan Culture Initiative in Managua (Iniciativa Cultural Alemana Nicaragüense – ICAN) continue to foster these relations. Currently, civil society cooperation is being greatly hampered by a series of repressive laws and measures on the part of the Government.

There are close historical ties between the two countries dating back to the 19th century when Germans emigrated to Nicaragua. The German influence can be felt even today, particularly in the coffee-growing region in the north. Around 1000 Germans live in Nicaragua and a few hundred Nicaraguan nationals live in Germany.

In addition to the German Embassy, German institutions active in Nicaragua include a bilingual German School, the bilateral Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). The German school in Managua is considered to be one of the best schools in the country and, through its alumni, its influence can be felt in all areas of Nicaraguan society.

Following the COVID-19 pandemic and despite the ongoing political crisis, a growing number of German tourists are rediscovering the land of lakes and volcanoes as a holiday destination. The companies Ritter-Sport and Dräxlmaier have been among the most important German investors of the last few years, while various German enterprises have been engaged in climate action in the form of reforestation/carbon sequestration projects.

With aggregate development cooperation worth around one billion euro, Germany has been one of the country’s principal bilateral donors to date. Technical cooperation ended on 31 December 2023; KfW is finalising a project in the water sphere.

Through regional programmes, Germany is supporting the expansion of renewable energies as well as the protection and sustainable use of natural resources.

Against the backdrop of the continuing repression, the German Government and the international community are working in multilateral forums for the restoration of the rule of law and of civil liberties, as well as the release of political prisoners.