On This Day in 1979: The Sandinista Revolution Topples Somoza, Ushering in Decades of Repression

July 19, 2025 Forty-six years ago today, Nicaragua witnessed a seismic political upheaval. On July 19, 1979, the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) entered Managua, toppling the decades-long dictatorship of the Somoza family. What began as a popular uprising against corruption and brutality soon evolved into a new era of authoritarianism-one that continues to erode liberty and human rights in Nicaragua to this day.

🇳🇮 The Fall of the Somoza Dynasty

The Somoza family ruled Nicaragua with U.S. backing from 1937 to 1979, amassing vast personal wealth while suppressing dissent through the National Guard. The final ruler, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, faced mounting opposition from a coalition of students, peasants, and business leaders. The assassination of journalist Pedro Joaquín Chamorro in 1978 ignited nationwide protests, culminating in a general strike and armed rebellion.

On July 17, 1979, - fled to exile in Paraguay. Two days later, Sandinista rebels entered the capital, declaring victory and forming a revolutionary government.

From Liberation to Repression

Initially hailed as liberators, the Sandinistas quickly consolidated power. By the early 1980s, the regime-led by Daniel Ortega-had begun silencing critics, nationalizing media, and persecuting religious and ethnic minorities. According to a 1983 CIA report, the Sandinistas surpassed their predecessors in human rights abuses, targeting journalists, clergy, Indigenous communities, and political opponents.

The Miskito Indians suffered particularly brutal treatment: forced relocations, destruction of villages, and arbitrary detentions were documented by international observers. Religious leaders, including Catholic and Moravian pastors, were censored or expelled, and independent labor unions were dismantled.

The Contra War and International Fallout

The U.S., alarmed by the Sandinistas' Marxist ties to Cuba and the Soviet Union, funded the Contras-a counter-revolutionary force composed of former National Guard members and anti-Sandinista factions. The resulting civil war claimed tens of thousands of lives and further destabilized the country.

In 1990, the Sandinistas lost power in democratic elections, but Ortega returned to office in 2007 and has remained in control ever since.

Modern-Day Authoritarianism

Today, Nicaragua is once again gripped by dictatorship. Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo-now co-presidents-have dismantled democratic institutions, silenced independent media, and stripped citizenship from hundreds of dissidents. The UN and Human Rights Watch have documented arbitrary detentions, torture, and transnational repression targeting exiles.

In 2025, the UN identified 54 officials responsible for systematic abuses, including Ortega and Murillo. The regime has expelled religious leaders, shut down over 5,600 NGOs, and criminalized dissent both inside and outside the country.

Legacy of July 19

What began as a revolution against tyranny has, tragically, become a cautionary tale of power unchecked. July 19, 1979, marks not only the end of one dictatorship but the beginning of another-one that continues to suppress liberty and violate human rights nearly half a century later.