Nicaragua severs diplomatic ties with Italy over 1978 murder case - Al Jazeera
Nicaragua has severed diplomatic ties with Italy following a dispute over the extradition of Alessio Casimirri, a former Red Brigades member convicted of the 1978 murder of Aldo Moro. Italy continues to demand his return, while Nicaragua cites constitutional protections against extraditing its citizens.
Why it matters
The diplomatic rupture underscores the ongoing tension between international justice efforts and national sovereignty regarding historical terrorism cases.
The rift follows Italy’s renewed demand for Nicaragua extradite the man convicted of killing a former prime minister.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani attends a joint press conference at Villa Madama in Rome, Italy, June 12, 2025 [FILE: Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters] By Al Jazeera Staff and Reuters Published On 16 Jul 2026 16 Jul 2026 Nicaragua has cut diplomatic ties with Italy in a dispute over its refusal to extradite a man convicted in the 1978 kidnapping and murder of former Italian Prime Minister Aldo Moro.
Nicaragua ’s Foreign Ministry announced the decision on Thursday, saying the diplomatic rupture was in response to comments by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani.
Tajani had criticised the Central American country for harbouring and giving citizenship to Alessio Casimirri, a former member of the far-left Red Brigades, who was found guilty of Moro’s killing.
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