May 4th in Nicaragua: Dignity, Sovereignty, and a Historical Debt That Remains Unsettled

COMITÉ EUROPEO DE SOLIDARIDAD CES

SOLIDARIDAD CON LA REVOLUCIÓN POPULAR SANDINISTA RPS

May 4th occupies a central place in Nicaragua’s political consciousness. It is a date charged with historical, legal, and symbolic meaning that connects the anti-imperialist resistance of the past with today’s struggles in defense of sovereignty. This day commemorates General Sandino’s decision in 1927 to reject the so-called Pact of Espino Negro, refusing to lay down arms in the face of foreign occupation. That gesture marked a turning point: it established that national dignity is not negotiable.

This recognition has neither been improvised nor recent. May 4th has been declared the “Day of National Dignity” at different stages in Nicaraguan history, reflecting its enduring political importance over time. During the Sandinista Revolution period (1980–1990), it was officially established for the first time; in December 1989, the “Order of May 4th – Day of National Dignity” was created as the highest distinction awarded by Parliament. Decades later, the National Assembly reaffirmed this legacy through Law No. 995, approved on May 31st, 2019, which formally ratified May 4th of every year as the Day of National Dignity. More recently, on May 4th, 2025, a new step was taken with the approval of Law No. 1249, which not only maintains this commemoration, but also declares the date as the “Day of the National Flags,” reinforcing its symbolic and patriotic dimension.

These decisions are not merely ceremonial. They express the will to institutionalize historical memory and project it into the present. National dignity implies the active defense of sovereignty against any form of foreign interference.

Within this framework, one of the strongest elements of contemporary Nicaraguan political discourse is the ongoing demand regarding a historical debt arising from the armed intervention and destabilization actions carried out by the United States. This demand is based on the 1986 ruling of the International Court of Justice, whose resolution remains unfulfilled. The claim amounts to more than 17 billion dollars, a figure that not only seeks compensation for material damages and destroyed infrastructure, but also reflects the human cost of a systematic war that left more than 50,000 victims and a devastating impact on the national economy that, to this day, has never been compensated.

This claim is not an issue of the past. It is a current demand, deeply linked to the concept of national dignity. Because one cannot speak of international justice if judicial rulings are ignored whenever they affect major powers. Nor can one speak of full sovereignty while there remains an acknowledged debt that has not been repaired.

From Europe, the Committees, Collectives, and Associations in Solidarity with the Sandinista People’s Revolution have decided to embrace this cause as part of our internationalist commitment. In 2025, we launched the campaign “Nicaragua Must Be Respected,” precisely on May 4th itself, with the aim of making this outstanding debt visible and demanding that the United States comply with its obligations. (www.ces-rps.com/nicaragua-se-respeta/)

This campaign is not a symbolic gesture, but a platform for political articulation aimed at mobilizing collectives and organizations across the continent, with the hope that it will expand internationally.

Therefore, we call on the entire solidarity movement with Nicaragua to join this demand (nicaraguaserespeta@ces-rps.com). This is not simply about supporting one country, but about defending fundamental principles of international law: the sovereign equality of States, the binding nature of judicial rulings, and the rejection of impunity. Nicaragua’s dignity is also a matter of global coherence.

At the same time, it is impossible to analyze this reality without placing it within a broader context. Nicaragua is part of a group of countries that have been subjected to constant attacks by the United States. Alongside Cuba and Venezuela, it has faced sanctions, threats, and campaigns of delegitimization aimed at conditioning its political and economic development.

It is necessary to firmly denounce these continuous attempts at aggression and interference. Policies of harassment affect not only governments, but entire peoples. They constitute a modern form of intervention that contradicts the principles of self-determination, sovereignty, and non-interference. In response, it is essential to affirm that Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela are sovereign and independent nations committed to peace, and that they have the full right to define their own paths free from external pressure.

Internationalist solidarity thus acquires a strategic dimension. It is not a matter of uncritical support, but of taking an ethical stance against the inequalities of the international system. Defending Nicaragua also means questioning a global order in which imperialism prevails over justice.

However, May 4th should not only be a day of denunciation, because dignity also implies participation and social justice. In Nicaragua, this vision is reflected in the promotion of multiple social programs aimed at improving the living conditions of the population, guaranteeing basic rights, and reducing inequalities. Ultimately, sovereignty is not only a matter of borders or resistance, but also the commitment to ensuring concrete rights and dignified living conditions for those who inhabit the territory.

Today, more than ever, this challenge remains alive. And from different corners of the world, those of us who believe in justice, the right of peoples to self-determination, sovereignty, and solidarity have a role to play. Because dignity, when it is authentic, is not merely proclaimed: it is defended, built, and shared.

And in this task, the slogan is clear: Nicaragua must be respected!

CES RPS

Comité Europeo de Solidaridad con la Revolución Popular Sandinista