Cuba Archive - Case 440

Case ID: 440

Title: N/A

First name: Anastasio

Last name: Somoza Debayle

Suffix: N/A

Aliases: Tachito

Name also reported as: N/A

Age: 54

Gender: Male

Date of Birth: Day:5 / Month:12 / Year:1925

Civil Status: Unknown

Date of death/disappearance: Day:17 / Month:9 / Year:1980

Citizenship: Nicaragua

Last known address: N/A

Last known city: N/A

Last known province-TOD: N/A

Last known province current: N/A

Last known country: Paraguay

Location death-address: Avenida España

Location of death - city: Asunción

Location of death province - at TOD: N/A

Location of death province - current: N/A

Location of death - country: Paraguay

Trial held?: No

Docket Number: N/A

Sentence details: N/A

Arrest or detention at time of death: No

Date of arrest: N/A

Imprisoned/Detained: Location: N/A

How long imprisoned/detained: N/A

Death attributed to: Castro regime

Death attribution detail: Argentine guerrillas supported by Cuba

Associated Event: N/A

Case description:

Former Nicaraguan leader assassinated while living in exile in Paraguay. Officially the 73rd and 76th President of Nicaragua (1967-1972 and 1974-1979), he ruled the country as head of the National Guard from 1967 to 1979. His family had been in power in Nicaragua since 1936. Overthrown in an insurrection led by the FSLN (Sandinista front), he fled to exile.
Somoza  was ambushed by a seven-person commando team of Argentine guerrillas (four men and three women) as part of "Operation Reptile." His non-armored Mercedes was hit by a rocket; Somoza was killed instantly together with the other two passengers in the car, his financial advisor, US citizen Jou Baittiner and his driver, the Nicaraguan César Gallardo. 
Cuban defectors have reported that the plan to assassinate Somoza was devised in Havana with direct input from Fidel Castro. Somoza had been a long-time nemesis of Castro for providing critical support to the U.S. in preparing for the Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba in April 1961.  Jorge Masetti, former Argentine guerrilla working with Cuban intelligence services, has described the Somoza assassination and Cuba's direct role in the planning.
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Ex-líder nicaragüense asesinado mientras vivía exiliado en Paraguay. Oficialmente fue el 73 y 76 presidente de Nicaragua (1967-1972 y 1974-1979), gobernó el país como jefe de la Guardia Nacional de 1967 a 1979. Su familia había estado en el poder en Nicaragua desde 1936. Luego de ser derrocado en una insurrección liderada por el FSLN (Frente Sandinista), huyó al exilio.
Somoza fue emboscado por un comando de siete personas de la guerrilla argentina (cuatro hombres y tres mujeres) como parte de la "Operación Reptil". Su Mercedes no blindado fue alcanzado por un cohete; Somoza murió instantáneamente junto con los otros dos pasajeros del auto, su asesor financiero, el ciudadano estadounidense Jou Baittiner y su chofer, el nicaragüense César Gallardo.
Varios desertores cubanos han informado que el plan para asesinar a Somoza fue ideado en La Habana con la participación directa de Fidel Castro. Somoza había sido durante mucho tiempo una némesis de Castro por brindar apoyo crítico a los Estados Unidos en la preparación de la invasión de Bahía de Cochinos en Cuba en abril de 1961. Jorge Masetti, exguerrillero argentino que trabajó con los servicios de inteligencia cubanos, ha descrito el asesinato de Somoza y su papel directo en la planificación.

Sources: Conflict of Evidence:

Violation Status: Reported: Highly likely / Highly reliable source(s)

Cause of Death: - Terrorism/Attack on civilian

Occupations: - Not in the labor force

External Files: N/A

Relatives in Archive: N/A

Victim Type: - Other

Affiliations: N/A

Other Victims Same Event: - Case 1239: Jou Baittiner - Case 188: Julio Cesar Gallardo

Case Record - Anastasio Somoza Debayle