The president of Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega, has made two critical appointments in the last few hours. The president announced the appointment of Ambassador Sandy Annabel Davila Sandoval as the country’s ambassador designate to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
He also announced the appointment of a new ministerial counselor to Cuba, Danilo Portocarrero Arguello.
The president made the first pronouncement based on “Presidential Agreement No. 142-2023,” which, among other things, confers the power of appointment of ambassadors on the president.
According to the government, “the agreement will be effective from the day of ratification by the National Assembly.
Until her appointment, Amb. Sandoval was the Minister of Counselor at the Nicaraguan Embassy in Japan, a position she has held since her appointment in 2022.
Amb. Sandoval possesses enviable experience in diplomacy. She started out at the Directorate of State Protocol and Ceremonies before serving at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, she headed the gender unit before she was appointed to the Holy See as an Advisor to Nicaragua’s mission.
The appointment of Amb. Arguello as the minister counselor to Cuba by Pres. Ortega was based on the Ministerial Agreement 29-2023.
By agreement, Amb. Arguello is expected to carry out the consular functions of the Embassy of Nicaragua in Cuba.
What is most concerning is President Ortega’s constant reshuffling of diplomats, especially in Cuba. The recent appointment made Cuba the country with the most cases of reshuffling.
The case of Amb. Alejandro Jose Solis Martinez’s reappointment after he had formally announced that he was leaving his diplomatic post in Cuba is an example.
More so, in a period of about six months, the government of Nicaragua made four diplomatic changes to its mission in Cuba.
It remains unclear if these new appointees will be reshuffled, especially Amb. Arguello.
