The Government of Nicaragua, led by President Daniel Ortega, has dismissed Jorge Danilo Portocarrero Argüello, who had been appointed Minister Counselor in Cuba. This surprising decision comes after Portocarrero Argüello was in office for only two days.
According to the Official Gazette “La Gaceta”, through a ministerial agreement, Nicaraguan Foreign Minister Denis Moncada Colindres revoked the appointment of Portocarrero Argüello, who had been designated as of August 9. The agreement entered into force on August 11, 2023, which means that Portocarrero Argüello was in office for only two days.
The Nicaraguan Foreign Ministry has not provided an official explanation for the reasons for this dismissal. However, it is important to note that this decision occurs in the midst of the visit to Managua by Abel Enrique Prieto Jiménez, advisor to the Cuban president.
Portocarrero Argüello, in addition to his brief diplomatic role, is known for being the manager of an advertising agency and a professor at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN-Managua). According to local sources, this was the first position he held in the foreign service of the Ortega government.
The diplomatic headquarters in Cuba has witnessed numerous changes in recent times. In less than a year, there have been several changes in the post of Nicaragua’s ambassador to Cuba, reflecting an instability in diplomatic relations between the two countries.
According to a 100 Noticias report, Portocarrero Argüello apparently declined the position the same day his official appointment was announced. This information suggests that Portocarrero Argüello’s decision not to take office could have been the reason behind the swift revocation of his appointment.
The Ortega regime has made numerous diplomatic moves in recent months, with frequent changes in embassies and consulates abroad. This trend has been particularly noticeable in Cuba, where Nicaraguan ambassadors have experienced constant changes.
The dismissal of Jorge Danilo Portocarrero Argüello as Minister Counselor in Cuba after only two days in office has added another layer of mystery to the already complicated diplomatic relations between Nicaragua and Cuba. Although the exact reasons behind this decision remain uncertain, the constant changes in diplomatic personnel suggest internal tensions or reassessments in Nicaragua’s foreign strategy.
