Anastasio Somoza Debayle

Somoza Debayle became President of Nicaragua in 1967, succeeding his brother Luis Somoza Debayle. He inherited a regime dominated by the Somoza family, which had ruled Nicaragua since 1936 through the National Guard.

Following a devastating earthquake in Managua in 1972, Somoza declared martial law and used the National Guard to suppress political opposition. The regime's corruption and mishandling of relief aid fueled growing resentment.

Somoza was overthrown by the Sandinista National Liberation Front (FSLN) in July 1979 after a prolonged civil war. He fled to Paraguay, ending 43 years of Somoza family rule in Nicaragua.

Somoza was assassinated in Asunci