Nicaragua

Nicaragua gained independence from the Central American Federation in 1838. It endured decades of US intervention and the Somoza family dictatorship (1936–1979) before the Sandinista revolution of 1979 brought a leftist government to power, triggering a decade-long Contra war funded by the United States. Free elections in 1990 ended Sandinista rule, though Daniel Ortega later returned to power in 2006.

• Existed: 1838 CE – present
• Type: Entity
• Government: Republic
• Capital: Managua