Western Hemisphere 91
atrocities during the civil war—fled to Honduras after the Sandinistas toppled the
Somoza regime. Honduras supported the former guardsmen’s attempts to overthrow
the Sandinistas, including providing cover fire and supplies, while Sandinista death
squads began to track down and kill former guardsmen in Honduras. Honduras also
seized three Nicaraguan ships and sent fighter planes into Nicaraguan airspace.
On October 7, Nicaragua recalled its ambassador to protest Honduran actions
and because of threats made against their ambassador and embassy in Tegucigalpa.
A month later Nicaraguan forces repelled an attack from former Honduran national
guardsmen, and Nicaragua responded by expelling a military attaché from the Hondu-
ran embassy in Managua. The Honduran foreign minister visited Nicaragua two days
later and proposed handing over any of the former national guardsmen known to be
criminals. The Nicaraguan foreign minister acknowledged that Nicaraguan troops had
violated the Honduran border, although he said it happened in error. Various incidents
followed. On November 12, Nicaragua warned Honduras that it had installed anti-
aircraft weaponry along the border. A week later Honduras accused the Nicaraguan
ambassador of hurling insults; Honduran media reported that Nicaragua subsequently
recalled the ambassador. On November 27, the Nicaraguan foreign minister accused
Honduras of meddling in Nicaragua’s internal affairs.
Tensions rose again on December 4, when Honduran troops killed a Sandinista
soldier by shooting across a river that formed their border. Honduran troops attacked
Somoto, Nicaragua, two days later, and on December 7, Nicaragua called for a summit
of Central American leaders to solve the dispute. In mid-December the Nicaraguan
foreign minister visited Honduras and “appeared to have patched up the quarrel”
according to news reports. The Honduran foreign minister, who was in Costa Rica,
told the press that the two sides intended to withdraw troops from the border.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from November 1979. Fatalities changed from
Missing.
MID#2347
Dispute Number: 2347
Date(s): April 28, 1981 to October 7, 1985
Participants: 93 Nicaragua/2 United States of America, 91 Honduras
Outcome (and Settlement): Unclear (None)
Fatalities: None
Narrative: A brief clash between Nicaraguan and Honduran forces led to a border
closure on April 29, 1981. Both countries then fortified their border and began military
training exercises. The United States signaled its support of Honduras the following
October with joint naval exercises.
Coding changes: Start Date changed from April 30, 1981. End Date changed from
June 6, 1985.
MID#2353
Dispute Number: 2353
Date(s): December 28, 1985 to May 23, 1988