Manuel Noriega

Manuel Noriega, born on February 11, 1934, in Panama City, emerged from humble beginnings as a member of a poor pardo family. His military career began at the Chorrillos Military School in Lima and continued at the School of the Americas, where he honed his skills as a military engineer and officer. Rising through the ranks, he formed a crucial alliance with Omar Torrijos, who would later lead a coup in 1968 to overthrow President Arnulfo Arias. Following this, Noriega became the chief of military intelligence in Torrijos's government.

After Torrijos's death in 1981, Noriega consolidated power and became the de facto ruler of Panama in 1983, ruling through a series of puppet presidents. His regime was characterized by a complex relationship with the United States, where he initially served as a valuable intelligence asset for the CIA. However, this relationship soured in the late 1980s due to various political and criminal controversies, including the murder of political opponents and his involvement in drug trafficking.

In 1988, Noriega faced federal indictments in Miami and Tampa for racketeering, drug smuggling, and money laundering. The U.S. invasion of Panama in December 1989 marked the end of his rule, leading to his capture and subsequent extradition to the United States. There, he was convicted on multiple charges and sentenced to forty years in prison, although he ultimately served seventeen years due to good behavior.

After his release, Noriega was extradited to France in 2010, where he was convicted for money laundering. In 2011, he returned to Panama to serve time for crimes committed during his dictatorship. His health deteriorated after being diagnosed with a brain tumor in March 2017, leading to complications during surgery that resulted in his death two months later. Noriega's legacy remains controversial, marked by his authoritarian rule, military expansion, and the repression of political dissent.