365 Days of Facts

Panama’s General Manuel Noriega surrenders to United States military forces on January 3, 1990.

He had sought refuge in the Apostolic Nunciature of the Holy See in Panama City, Panama when US military troops invaded Panama on December 20, 1989.

Noriega, who was born in Panama in 1938. He had been a loyal soldier to General Omar Torrijos prior to his death in a 1981 plane crash.

Torrijos seized power in a 1968 coup. Under Torrijos, Noriega led the notorious G-2 intelligence service. It would harass and terrorize Torrijos regime dissidents. Noriega also became a Central Intelligence Agency operative, while also smuggling drugs.

After Torrijos’ sudden death, Noriega would become the nation’s leader after a two-year power struggle. Subsequently, he would fix Panamanian presidential elections. Noriega’s rule was marked by corruption and violence.

He also became a double agent for Eastern bloc countries, selling American intelligence secrets to Cuba and Eastern Europe.

In 1987, when Panamanians organized protests against Noriega and demanded his ouster, he declared a national emergency, shut down radio stations and newspapers, and forced his political enemies into exile.

That year the United States cut off aid to Panama and tried to get Noriega to resign. Noriega voided the May 1989 presidential election, which included a U.S.-backed candidate, and in December of that year he declared his country to be in a state of war with the United States.

Noriega Surrenders; Is Flown To US

Noriega was flown to Miami via Homestead Airbase in Florida the following day.

Panamanian citizens took to the city streets to rejoice the end of the dictator’s reign.

Thirty-one months later, the former dictator was convicted of drug trafficking, money laundering and racketeering and sentenced to 40 years in prison.