POPULATION:
3.2 Million
LITERACY RATE:
59%
SELF DEFENSE FORCES:
Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional
LANGUAGES:
Spanish
ETHNIC GROUPS:
mestizo (mixed white and Amerindian ancestry)69%, white (mostly Spanish and Italian) 17%,  black (Afro-Nicaragüense) 9%, Other (Amerindian, or other non-white groups 5%
BORDERING COUNTRIES:
Honduras, Atlantico, Costa Rica
NORTHERN NICARAGUA - Nicaragua is a split country still honoring old lines. For administrative purposes it is divided into 15 departments (departamentos) and two self-governing regions (autonomous communities) based on the Spanish model. The two autonomous regions are Región Autónoma del Atlántico Norte and Región Autónoma del Atlántico Sur, often referred to as RAAN and RAAS, respectively. Until they were granted autonomy in 1985 they formed the single department of Zelaya. Currently the RAAN remains communist while the Southern RAAS has become the major center of the new breakaway Democracy, backed by American support. Officially each government from the Northern Sandinistas and the Southern Puppet Democracy recognize each other’s territories as legitimate parts of their own country, usually considering themselves the “Authentic” government of Nicaragua and the other government renegades and frauds. The border drawn on the map at the top of the document is the real border, measured out by actual influence and military control of regions. The Northern section of the RAAS department is contested territory occupied by Sandinistas.  The Sandinistas or FSLN (Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional) were the major government party in Nicaragua during the beginning of the SouthAm War, but their message has been embittered during long guerilla war by fighting off the American forces. To garner Neo-Soviet Support, they have become the extreme of what was otherwise a beneficial group.

The Northern majority of Nicaragua was hit extremely hard by American forces during the SouthAm war under allegations of drug manufacturing and farming in the country’s lowlands. Most of the country still lies in ruins and a solid 60% of the population of the Northern country is homeless and survive by Nomadic lifestyles, straining the Southern border of Honduras. These Nomads have made it hard to institute government control and enforce Communist Ideals of the Sandinistas. The Sandinistas and communist government pays money to the still remaining successful farmers, actually owing a debt to many wealthy land owners and plantations in the countryside in an attempt to keep up their rural lifestyles. The Sandinista Government is popular among many Nomads from other countries looking for permanent residence, as they are paid to stay in one place and attempt to farm the lands of the ruined countryside. Many Nomads form unaligned guerilla groups, but most share one common uniting principle, deep hatred for the United States Influence in their country and the horrible atrocities during the war. The Sandinistas use mostly outdated Soviet Technology and struggle to keep control of most of their territory daily, only Managua is a bastion of Communist Strength. The Sandinistas managed to drag the South American war out so long and bloody, that it eventually bankrupt America, this is a fact that is celebrated during Victory Week every year. However most citizens really understand that Nicaragua lost dearly in the war and even a presence still remains from members of the Gang of Four and Soldiers who were left behind for a war that has never really ended for them, in Atlantico Sur. The Sandinistas have begun to give back into the rule of the Cartels, who agree to do farming and bring money to Nicaragua again, as long as they are given the run of the show and allowed to deal their drugs with impunity. This usually means that the real authorities are actually Cartel hired mercenaries and not the Military in the region. What little new technology makes its way into the Northern parts of the country, are jealously guarded by the Cartel and the Government which makes trades with the Drug Lords.

Northern Nicaragua is a form of extreme Socialism or Communism and relies heavily on state owned agricultural business and government regulations on almost every economic aspect of the country. In actuality the government only thinks it makes the regulations, which are often ignored and there are many organizations, such as Cartel Plantations, which totally violate them regularly. The government is run by a political Sandinista leader who was a hero in the war, named Horhay Guava. Horhay is the military leader as well as the head of the government. Elections are held once every 6 years, but Guava knows that it could be much shorter if he angered the Cartels. Guava’s power is checked by the military itself and if he ever lost support of the army, which wages its eternal war against American influence in Central America, he would probably be ousted. Many labor leaders throughout Northern Nicaragua are considered government officials and they are in charge of local economics. Members of communities, who attempt to do work outside of the Communist Party unions, are dealt with harshly. Despite all these factors, nearly every member of the community, even if they are unaffiliated with the Communist Sandinista Party including nomads, has a voice in the government. Community voting councils are common among sections of cities and on college grounds throughout the country. These councils usually allow members of a specific organization or community to vote on aspects of their government that affects them directly. While they cannot override decrees made by the Sandinista leaders themselves, they can typically regulate local prices and economic matters. The problem with open discussion forums is the same with any democracy where a lot of people have guns, intimidation occurs by Cartels and Nomads in some communities who blockade community forums so that votes only occur by selected members. The inner city sections of Managua however, are some of the most liberating areas of the country, as they are free from outside influence by the strong Military presence in the city.

What little is left of the Nicaraguan economy is a few service industries, a costly farming industry to feed the country, and the manufacture of military goods. Very little free industry or commercialism exists without the influence of Cartels, Organized Crime, or Nomads. Rated one of the world's finest rums, Ron Flor de Caña is produced in Chinandega, Nicaragua.  (Currency exchange rate: 1 Eb = 200 Grande Cordobas* *During revolutionary fighting, the exchange rate may fluctuate by an increase of 1d100% daily.)

Unlike most Communist societies, Northern Nicaragua has a double standard on religion. Party leaders agree that religion is the “opiate of the masses” but they are content with keeping it operational in order to please the people. Most Central American holidays are still in practice, along with Victory Week, a festival held by the military that celebrates the Sandinistas repelling of American forces from the country. The community itself has an acceptable amount of free time on leisurely, yet inefficient, work schedules set down by the Communist government. Most spend their free time with a variety of hobbies, including soccer which has become a big sport and is played in the streets. There are still however, many kids that possess a lack of things to do that  have taken up crime, joining the variety of youth gangs throughout the countryside. Most Nicaraguans begin and end every day with Gallo pinto, a meal of rice and beans cooked separately and then fried together. On the Atlantic coast it is common to add coconut oil to the dish.

In late 2019, Northern Nicaragua joined the South American Alliance along with Guatemala, unifying themselves with anti-American forces.  This serves to further strain relations with Atlantico to the south.


 

HOTSPOT:
MANAGUA

(Written by Joe "Citizen X" Klemann: Some Information is taken from the CIA Worldfactbook, Wikipedia, Geographia.com, and Cyberpunk 2020.)