Somoza Debayle, Anastasio (1925-1980)

Nicaraguan soldier and politician, president 1967-72 and 1974-79. The second son of Anastasio Somoza García, he succeeded his brother Luis Somoza Debayle as president of Nicaragua in 1967, to head an even more oppressive and corrupt regime, characterized by tightened press censorship and rising popular discontent as the economic situation deteriorated. He was removed by Sandinista guerrillas in 1979 and assassinated in Paraguay in 1980.

Trained at the US military academy West Point, he joined the Nicaraguan national guard (which combined military and police power), becoming its commander from 1955.