September 20th, 2025 - From Comrades to Targets: Ortega’s Loyalists Face the Purge

They once fought alongside Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua during the 1970s, when the Sandinistas were insurgents aiming to overthrow a decades-long dictatorship. Many of these rebels later joined Ortega in governing the country in the 1980s and again nearly two decades ago when he returned to power. But today, even his most loyal associates face accusations of crimes and find themselves imprisoned or under house arrest.

From members of the original Sandinista Party leadership to high-ranking military officers and even family members, Ortega and his wife and co-president, Rosario Murillo, are purging allies who have remained close for decades. In a country already plagued by arbitrary arrests and limited political freedoms, the targeting of longtime partisans signals an unprecedented move to consolidate authority.

Observers note that the purge appears to be largely orchestrated by Murillo, widely seen as the real power behind Ortega. Over the past year, she has expanded her influence through constitutional changes, a new paramilitary force loyal to the government, and sweeping reforms of the judiciary, effectively giving the presidency near-total control over the courts. Analysts say her aim is to eliminate rivals and position herself as Nicaragua’s eventual sole leader.

Among the most notable figures affected is Bayardo Arce, 76, the last of the original nine Sandinista commanders from the 1980s still at Ortega’s side. Arce, a former guerrilla and long-serving economic adviser, was arrested in July over alleged irregularities with his properties. Experts view his arrest as a clear message: no one, not even the party’s most senior figures, is safe from Murillo’s power consolidation.

Other longtime Sandinista figures have faced similar fates. National security adviser Nestor Moncada Lau was imprisoned in August over a property confiscation. Retired brigadier general Álvaro Baltodano Cantarero received a 20-year sentence for treason, and Henry Ruiz, another original commander, was placed under house arrest. Even Ortega’s brother Humberto, who commanded the army under the original Sandinista government, died following months under house arrest.

Experts suggest Murillo’s purge is a preventive move. By removing veterans like Arce, she diminishes the likelihood that the military or party loyalists might rally behind anyone other than her after Ortega’s eventual departure. “There could be a group in the military that would coalesce behind him,” said one analyst, “nobody is going to coalesce behind her,” highlighting the delicate balance she must maintain.

The campaign also underscores the erosion of institutional checks in Nicaragua. With Murillo consolidating control over the F.S.L.N., the courts, and the party’s younger members, loyalty to Ortega or long service to the party no longer guarantees protection. “One thing this shows is that no one is untouchable within the F.S.L.N.,” said a political expert. “It also shows very firmly that longtime loyalty to the party, and to Daniel, is not going to protect you.”

Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster) - Enmity (noun, EN-muh-tee) - Enmity is a formal word that refers to a very deep unfriendly feeling, such as hatred or ill will, that is often felt mutually.

Example: Having to collaborate on the project only increased the bitter enmity between the two coworkers, who had never gotten along.

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