Nicaragua has begun to fall apart. On Tuesday the National Assembly slashed government spending by 9 percent, the economy’s expected growth has stalled, and Managua has fallen into chaos—protests have rocked Nicaragua since April and left hundreds dead.

The country’s unrest grew out of small demonstrations against proposed social security reforms. This in turn prompted brutal push back from thecentral government and local police against protesters young and old. Mass protests directed at the Ortega regime were not far behind.