The arrival of African migrants to Nicaragua is “business as usual” despite visa restrictions announced by the United States government against those promoting irregular migration to that country. The Managua International Airport appears crowded with individuals of African origin every time a flight arrives from Africa via El Salvador, as they seek to continue their journey to the United States.
On one of the three flights that arrived from San Salvador to Managua on the morning of December 6, operated by the airline Avianca, it was confirmed that over 40 foreigners of African origin arrived. However, on average, three to four flights arrive in Managua from the neighboring Central American country every day.
Observations indicate that the majority of migrant individuals are young adult men, with occasional women with a smaller number with children.
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The migrants, as confirmed, are not arriving in the country for a visit or to stay. Upon leaving the attention area of the General Directorate of Migration and Foreigners to the waiting rooms at the airport, the groups of foreigners first head to buy SIM cards for mobile phone sales stands. Subsequently, they approach authorized taxi drivers within the airport terminal to inquire about trips to the northern borders of Nicaragua with Honduras.
The network of authorized taxi drivers transports them to the border
At the Managua International Airport, it has been observed that there’s an increased presence of ‘official’ or airport-authorized taxi drivers who wear blue signs and shirts for identification.
The fares charged by these taxi drivers are similar to those charged by regular taxis in Managua that, before being forced by the Ortega-led Police to evacuate, used to wait for migrants looking to reach one of the northern borders of the country at the gas stations near the airport.
The official airport taxi drivers, upon seeing African migrants arrive, approach them with a cellphone in hand, an open translation app, and start explaining their offer. Some of the migrants who requested a quote were informed that the fare ranges between 40 and 50 dollars per person.
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The Immigration officials, in close coordination with the taxi drivers, request via radio for drivers to report, including with photos, the presence of taxis from other cooperatives.
However, inside the airport, there were civilians showing photos to African migrants, approaching to find the customers they had previously arranged trips with to the border. They would then leave the airport terminal and head towards the vehicles for transportation.
It was also confirmed that some groups of migrants didn’t approach the authorized airport taxi drivers to inquire about trips and instead waited for them seating on the parking railings of the airport terminal.
26 flights per week arrive from El Salvador
The groups of migrants continue to arrive in the country using flights from El Salvador operated by Avianca. Upon arriving in Nicaraguan territory, these individuals begin their journey towards the United States by land.
LA PRENSA learned that flights from Madrid to San Salvador are crowded with people of African and Indian origin heading to Managua. All this despite the government of Nayib Bukele imposing a thousand-dollar tax on travelers from African nations and India transiting through El Salvador.
Between Sunday, December 3rd, and Saturday, December 9th, Avianca has at least 26 scheduled flights from El Salvador to Managua. The numbers might vary as airlines can modify their travel schedules, either advancing or delaying flights.
For this Thursday alone, the airline has three flights scheduled from El Salvador to Nicaragua, and four for Friday the 8th.
Unlike African migrants, passengers from Cuba and Haiti, who also used Nicaragua as a steppingstone en route to the United States, have reduced their arrivals in Nicaraguan territory due to the sanctions announced by the U.S. administration against airline executives operating charter flights to Managua.
In recent weeks, airlines Aruba, Sky High, and Air Century informed agencies arranging tickets for flights between Cuba and Nicaragua that they will no longer schedule trips between these destinations. Additionally, the Haitian government has suspended flights from Haiti to Nicaragua since October 30, citing intentions to implement a reorganization.