Contras
Sign in to saveThe Contras (from ) were the anti-communist right-wing rebels who waged a guerrilla war against the Marxist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and the Junta of National Reconstruction, which came to power after the Nicaraguan Revolution in 1979. The insurgency against the Sandinista government lasted from 1979 until 1990, and was one of the highest profile conflicts of the Cold War.
Key facts
- Militant organization.name
- Contras
- Militant organization.war
- Contra War and Cold War
- Militant organization.image
- Contra commandas 1987.jpg
- Militant organization.image_size
- 275px
- Militant organization.caption
- The Nicaraguan Contras in Nueva Guinea in 1987
- Militant organization.active
- 1979–1990
- Militant organization.position
- Right-wing
- Militant organization.motives
- Overthrowing the left-wing FSLN government of Nicaragua
- Militant organization.clans<! listed as "groups" >
- F.D.N., A.R.D.E. Frente Sur, YATAMA, Misura
- Militant organization.size
- 16,000 (1986)
- Militant organization.opponents
- FSLN
- Militant organization.battles
- Major operations at La Trinidad, Rama highway, Siuna, and Bonanza. Numerous FSLN bases overrun throughout Jinotega, Matagalpa, Zelaya, Chontales, and Río San Juan.
via Wikipedia infobox
Article
19 sectionsContents
- History
- Origins
- Main groups
- Unity efforts
- U.S. military and financial assistance
- Political background
- Atrocities
- Illegal covert operations
- Propaganda
- International Court of Justice ruling
- Human rights violations
- Controversy
- Military successes and election of Violeta Chamorro
- In popular culture
- See also
- Notes
- References
- External links
- Notes
The Contras (from ) were the anti-communist right-wing rebels who waged a guerrilla war against the Marxist Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) and the Junta of National Reconstruction, which came to power after the Nicaraguan Revolution in 1979. The insurgency against the Sandinista government lasted from 1979 until 1990, and was one of the highest profile conflicts of the Cold War.
In July 1979, the FSLN took control of the capital Managua after weeks of heavy fighting. The president at the time, Anastasio Somoza Debayle, fled the country and relinquished control of the central government, leaving the Sandinistas in power. The Sandinistas created a military junta that acted as an interim government immediately after. Various groups were created in response to this, consisting of dissidents of the new government and members of the former National Guard. These groups would regularly meet and establish the Contras in 1980.