In 1979 The Sandinistas overthrew the Somoza Dynasty, a military dictatorship that used Nicaragua to enrich itself, exiled most of its political opponents, and took over the ownership of large areas of land and many businesses.

In 1984 Daniel Ortega, a Sandinista, won the presidential election (for first time).

In 2011 Daniel Ortega, after a series of failed attempts, became president again. This time he he planned to stay in power, for good. Since then he has moved to undermine Nicaragua’s democracy and replace it with a mild cult of personality. He seized the electoral authority and supreme court, shut down opposition parties, rigged elections and abolished term limits. In 2016 he installed his wife as vice-president and put her in charge of most day-to-day governing, establishing a family dynasty reminiscent of the dictatorship he overthrew in 1979.

In April 2018, demonstrations began that opposed a decree that increased taxes and reduced benefits in the country's pension system. Daniel Ortega was not pleased and decided to shut the protests down. As of May 2018, estimates of the death toll were as high as 63, many of them student protesters, and the wounded totalled more than 400. The government gave orders not to treat students injured during the protests. April 24, 2018 marked the day of the greatest march in opposition of the Sandinista party. Over a million people took to the street to protest government repression.

The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) has condemned Nicaragua’s response to protests against President Daniel Ortega, criticizing a crackdown that resulted in rights abuses including torture and possibly even murder. The report also said that “there could have been extrajudicial executions.”

Road blocks or 'Tranques' in Spanish are one of the only ways in which the people can fight back against unconstitutional President Daniel Ortega and his wife and Vice President Rosario Murillo. Unless they can continue the people will be forced to accept Daniel Ortega as their Dictator or take up arms.

Please help the 'Tranquistas' continue their fight until the job is done and Nicaragua is free of Daniel and his wife.