In a country with virtually no independent media, Radio Stereo Romance was a very unique outlier. The station continued to broadcast in Nicaragua with most of its staff in exile, and had recently shifted its programming to focus less on news analysis and more on entertainment as repression intensified.

Then, at 7:30 a.m. on 8 May, agents from the Nicaraguan Telecommunications and Postal Institute (TELCOR), the country’s broadcast regulator, shut down Radio Stereo Romance and dismantled its main transmission equipment. TELCOR revoked the station’s 105.3 FM and 91.1 FM frequencies through Administrative Resolution No. 024-2026. The station’s director, Francisco Gadea López, who has been in exile since 2021, told RSF that TELCOR justified the measure by alleging an “alleged failure to comply with the requirements for licence renewal.” Francisco Gadea López has publicly rejected this accusation and stated that all payments and fees corresponding to 2026 had been fully paid.

“A radio station shut down in Nicaragua means an entire community is deprived of the right to reliable information. Radio Stereo Romance was known for its independent work, its public service role and its emphasis on showcasing diverse ideas and opinions. The station’s closure highlights the ongoing attempt by Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo’s regime to completely eliminate the space for independent journalism in the country. RSF will continue supporting persecuted journalists and media outlets and demanding guarantees for press freedom in Nicaragua.

31 years serving the public interest

Founded 31 years ago in the city of Jinotepe, Radio Stereo Romance established itself as a regional benchmark for local news, community coverage and political and social analysis programmes. In 2017, it expanded its coverage to the departments of Rivas, Granada, Masaya and Carazo, while also strengthening its digital presence and public debate programmes. For years, the station maintained an independent editorial line that showcased diverse ideas and opinions, becoming a key source of information for communities in the south of the country.

Since the crackdown that started after the 2018 protests in Nicaragua, the station faced constant harassment, threats, smear campaigns and restrictions on covering the news. The persecution was so intense that it forced at least ten of the outlet’s employees into exile, while other staff members resigned from their positions. RSF provided aid to the station as reprisals intensified. The radio station continued keeping the public informed despite severe financial, technical and security constraints — until now.

Nicaragua has become one of the most hostile countries for journalism in Latin America. Under the Ortega-Murillo regime, dozens of media outlets have been shut down, confiscated or forced into exile. In the 2026 RSF World Press Freedom Index, Nicaragua ranks 168th out of 180 countries and territories.