The Contras was a counterrevolutionary movement that opposed the socialist Sandinistas. It was supported mainly by the US, as the members of the Contras’ groups were trained and armed by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). The US was involved in many conflicts in the Latin American region, encouraging the military overthrow of governments and organizing counterrevolutions. Most notably, the US-sponsored the Contras which worked to attack the Sandinistas in the 1980s and 1990s. The Reagan administration was the main ally of these groups, acting in favor of them even after an official ban on US support was enacted. The illegality of the Contras’ actions and their supporters resulted in numerous human rights violations.
The Contras recruited members from supporters of Somoza, the overthrown dictator. Moreover, as some people opposed the Sandinistas due to differing views on politics and economics, they were recruited as well. Later, the elements of the Contras and other counterrevolutionary groups formed the Nicaraguan Democratic Force. The incentives to join the Contras were financial and political – contra soldiers received salaries that were higher than their usual incomes. The role of Contras limiting the power of the Sandinistas showed the influence that the US continued to have over the region despite the revolutionary movement.