CIA against Nicaragua (1979-1990)

With the victory of the Popular Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua, U.S. President Jimmy Carter authorized Central Intelligence Agency operations in support of the opposition. During the Ronald Reagan administration, hundreds of millions of dollars were allocated to the creation of a mercenary army that –based in neighboring Honduras– was devoted to sabotaging Nicaragua’s efforts to build a democratic and pluralistic society.

The dirty war waged against the country left 60,000 dead and 2,000 missing, in addition to $17 billion dollars in damage that the U.S. refused to pay despite a ruling by the World Court of Justice in 1986. Ultimately, the opposition came to power in 1990 after an electoral process marked by U.S. intervention.