Editing Nicaraguan Armed Forces (section)

===Nicaraguan Armed Forces, 1990–1995===
Under an agreement between President-elect [[Violeta Chamorro|Chamorro]] of the [[National Opposition Union (Nicaragua, 1990)|National Opposition Union]] (Unión Nacional Oppositora – UNO) and the defeated FSLN party, General [[Humberto Ortega]], former defense minister and commander in chief of the EPS under the Sandinistas, remained at the head of the armed forces.<ref name=":6">Tartter, Jean R. "Armed forces after 1990". In {{Harvnb|Merrill|1994|pp=207–210}}.</ref> By a law that took effect in April 1990, the EPS became [[subordinate]] to President Chamorro as commander in chief.<ref name=":6" /> Chamorro also retained the Ministry of Defense portfolio.<ref name=":6" />

Chamorro's authority over the EPS was very limited.<ref name=":6" /> There were no Ministry of Defense offices and no vice ministers to shape national defense policies or exercise civilian control over the armed forces.<ref name=":6" /> Under the Law of Military Organization of the Sandinista Popular Army enacted just before Chamorro's election victory, Humberto Ortega retained authority over promotions, military construction, and force deployments.<ref name=":6" /> He contracted for [[weapon]]s procurement and drafted the military [[budget]] presented to the government.<ref name=":6" /> Only an overall budget had to be submitted to the legislature, thus avoiding a line-item review by the National Assembly.<ref name=":6" />

Sandinista officers remained at the head of all general staff directorates and military regions.<ref name=":6" /> The chief of the army, Major General [[Joaquín Cuadra Lacayo]], continued in his pre-Chamorro position.<ref name=":6" /> Facing domestic pressure to remove Humberto Ortega and the risk of curtailment of United States aid as long as Sandinistas remained in control of the armed forces, Chamorro announced that Ortega would be replaced in 1994.<ref name=":6" /> Ortega challenged her authority to relieve him and reiterated his intention to remain at the head of the EPS until the army reform program was completed in 1997.<ref name=":6" /> This date was later advanced to the first half of 1995.<ref name=":6" />

The army reform measures were launched with deep cuts in personnel strengths, the abolition of conscription, and disbanding of the [[Sandinista Popular Army#Sandinista People.27s Militia|militia]].<ref name=":6" /> The size of the army declined from a peak strength of 97,000 troops to an estimated 15,200 in 1993, accomplished by voluntary discharges and forced retirements.<ref name=":6" /> Under the Sandinistas, the army general staff embodied numerous branches and directorates artillery, combat readiness, communications, Frontier Guards, military construction, intelligence, counterintelligence, training, operations, organization and mobilization, personnel, and logistics.<ref name=":6" /> Most of these bodies appear to have been retained, although they have been trimmed and reorganized.<ref name=":6" /> The Nicaraguan Air Force and [[Nicaraguan Navy|Navy]] were also subordinate to the army general staff.<ref name=":6" />

Since 1990 the mission of the EPS has been to ensure the security of the [[national border]]s and to deal with internal disturbances.<ref name=":6" /> Its primary task has been to prevent disorder and violence wrought by armed bands of former [[Contras|Contra]] and Sandinista soldiers.<ref name=":6" />

In November and December 1992, the EPS was deployed alongside the National Police to prevent violence during demonstrations by the National Workers' Front for improved pay and benefits.<ref name=":6" /> The EPS and the Frontier Guards also assist the police in [[narcotic]]s control.<ref name=":6" /> A small EPS contingent works alongside demobilized Contras in a Special Disarmament Brigade to reduce the arsenal of weapons in civilian hands.<ref name=":6" />