Omar Torrijos and the Sandinista Revolution

The author examines the little-known story of the intervention of Panama’s dictator Omar Torrijos in the internal affairs of Nicaragua during the Sandinista Revolution against the Somoza Regime in 1978–1979. Not only did Torrijos send Panamanian volunteers to fight in Nicaragua, but he also organized the supply of arms to Sandinista rebels. However, the Panamanian dictator failed in his larger effort. He wanted to organize an alliance of Costa Rica, Venezuela, and Cuba to help overthrow Somoza and, at the same time, establish a moderate reformist government in Nicaragua as an example to other Central American nations. He also attempted to involve President Jimmy Carter in his scheme.