Roberto Samcam Ruiz, a former Nicaraguan Army major critical of the Sandinista government, had fled to Costa Rica after becoming a target. He adopted strict security measures, including changing clothes and utilizing ride-hailing services to evade potential threats. Despite these precautions, Mr. Samcam was shot dead on June 19 in his San José apartment by two attackers who had been surveilling him.
His assassination marks a troubling trend, becoming at least the sixth incident of violence against Nicaraguan dissidents in Costa Rica since the anti-government protests erupted in 2018, leading to mass emigration. Family and friends of the victims now express deep fears about the Ortega government's extending its oppressive tactics beyond its borders, targeting those who oppose its regime.
