Outspoken Exiled Critic of Nicaraguan President, Roberto Samcam, Unceremoniously Killed
Shooting of Critic Roberto Samcam in Costa Rica by Nicaraguan Authorities
In a shocking turn of events, Roberto Samcam, a vocal opponent of Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, was brutally assassinated in his Costa Rican home. The 66-year-old retired army officer, renowned for his courageous critique of Ortega's regime, was murdered on June 19, 2025, leaving his family, friends, and fellow opposition figures stunned.
The brutal attack took place in a suburban neighborhood of San José. Reports suggest the gunmen, disguised as delivery personnel, barged into Samcam's home on motorcycles and ended the life of this tenacious critic. Costa Rican emergency services confirmed Samcam's lifeless body upon their arrival at the scene, and the authorities have since identified him.
Samcam was an exiled Nicaraguan former Sandinista who turned into a relentless adversary of Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo. He authored books documenting their authoritarian rule, such as "Ortega: El calvario de Nicaragua," which shed light on their human rights abuses and suppression of civil society.
His dedication to exposing the regime's repression and violence earned him many enemies. In Nicaragua, he faced paramilitary attacks on his home and eventually sought refuge in Costa Rica in 2018 due to the government's violent crackdown on protests. The crackdown resulted in an estimated 300 deaths.
In the wake of Samcam's murder, opponents of the Ortega-Murillo government are calling for a thorough and transparent investigation by the Costa Rican authorities, with international support to prevent similar acts and bring the perpetrators to justice. This tragic event serves as a grim reminder of the ongoing risks faced by opposition figures in exile and the pervasive atmosphere of repression orchestrated by the Ortega-Murillo regime.
- ntv.de
- AFP
- Global News
- The Guardian
- CNN
Samcam, a firm advocate against the regime's crackdown on students and the Catholic Church, has joined the ranks of the countless victims of Ortega's oppressive rule. In the face of this cowardly act of political retribution, the anti-Ortega faction remains resolute in their quest for democracy and justice in Nicaragua.
The Commission, in the midst of preparing the draft directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to carcinogens, has issued a statement expressing deep concern over the assassination of outspoken critic Roberto Samcam in a controversial political murder. Meanwhile, the war-and-conflicts section of global news outlets has shifted focus from the ongoing Syria peace talks to the escalating tensions between Nicaragua and Costa Rica, with politics and crime-and-justice sectors following closely.
