The executioners of the dictatorship: The history that has marked Central America and the Caribbean

The 20th century in Central America and the Caribbean was marked by authoritarian regimes, military coups, and a profound restriction of civil liberties. (Illustrative image Infobae)During the 20th century, Central America and the Caribbean were traversed by dictatorships and authoritarian governments that concentrated power, limited political freedoms, and resorted to the repression of opponents, while Nicaragua and Cuba today maintain systems questioned for their restrictions on pluralism and opposition. International media such as La Vanguardia and the website Muy Interesante compile the history of these figures. Nicaragua constitutes one of the current cases of greatest concentration of power in the region. Daniel Ortega returned to the presidency in 2007 and, since 2025, formally shares the figure of co-president with Rosario Murillo following constitutional reforms that expanded the powers of the Executive. According to information from El Confidencial, human rights organizations and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights documented restrictions against opposition leaders, media outlets, civil organizations, and religious freedom. In September 2026, the United Nations office warned of a growing concentration of power in the Executive and the ruling party. El Salvador was governed by Maximiliano Hernández Martínez between 1931–1944, after the military man and politician came to power through a coup d'état. His administration applied strict political control and repressed opposition movements. His name became associated with La Matanza, the repression of the 1932 peasant uprising that left thousands dead. Hernández Martínez left power in 1944, after a general strike that contributed to his departure, national media reported. General Maximiliano Hernández Martínez, whose mandate (1931-1944) became tragically linked to the peasant repression of 'La Matanza' in 1932. (Courtesy image)Guatemala was under the presidency of Jorge Ubico from 1931 until 1944. The government concentrated much of the political power in the presidential figure, restricted political freedoms, and persecuted opponents. Ubico also promoted infrastructure works and established a strongly centralized state administration. The October Revolution of 1944, a series of protests, brought about his resignation. In Honduras, Tiburcio Carías Andino governed between 1933 and 1949. His administration limited opposition activity and used state institutions and security forces to maintain political control. Carías Andino left the presidency in 1949, although he maintained influence in Honduran political life. Nicaragua, on the other hand, came under the dominion of the Somoza family for more than four decades. Anastasio Somoza García became the dominant political figure of Nicaragua starting in 1936. He was then followed by his sons, Luis Somoza Debayle and Anastasio Somoza Debayle, with close ties to the National Guard and extensive political and economic influence. The Somoza regime ended in 1979, when the Sandinista Revolution overthrew Anastasio Somoza Debayle. Panama also had a military government headed by Omar Torrijos, who came to power after the 1968 coup. The attack occurred shortly after 10:00 on Generalísimo Franco avenue in Asunción, more than a year after his flight from Nicaragua. (Courtesy image)Torrijos restricted democratic institutions, although he promoted social and nationalist reforms. The negotiations that led to the Torrijos-Carter Treaties of 1977 established the process for Panama to progressively regain control of the Panama Canal; he died in a plane accident in 1981. Costa Rica followed a different trajectory within Central America. During much of the 20th century, it developed relatively stable democratic institutions and did not go through a military dictatorship comparable to those of Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, or Honduras. Rafael Leónidas Trujillo governed the Dominican Republic for approximately 31 years, between 1930 and 1961, although in certain periods he maintained formally distinct presidents while retaining effective power. His regime promoted a cult of personality, imposed censorship, and sustained an extensive network of surveillance and persecution against opponents. The Parsley Massacre of 1937 was one of the best-known episodes of his government: thousands of Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian descent were killed. Trujillo was assassinated in 1961. In Cuba, Fulgencio Batista had previously held the presidency through elections, but returned to power through a coup d'état in 1952. His second government suspended constitutional guarantees, persecuted opponents, and applied political repression. Fidel Castro during his historic 4-hour and 29-minute speech before the UN General Assembly in New York, on September 26, 1960 (Courtesy: UN). The Cuban Revolution led by Fidel Castro ended Batista's government in January 1959. Since then, the country has maintained a political system without partisan pluralism, with the Communist Party of Cuba as the central structure. Miguel Díaz-Canel has been president since 2019, after succeeding Raúl Castro during the 2018-2019 period. The Cuban government maintains restrictions on freedom of expression, independent media, political opposition, and demonstrations. Freedom House classifies Cuba as a "Not Free" country and describes it as a single-party communist state. The Communist Party continues as the main political structure of the system.