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The Ortega-Murillo regime and the Nicaraguan Army know it’s a fabrication. Daniel Ortega even admitted it himself: “You don’t just invent a rank for the sake of inventing one,” he said. The FSLN strongman was referring to the military rank of colonel general, a new title that — according to experts in civil-military relations — creates the illusion of change at the top of the military, while keeping intact the “institutional bottleneck” that controls the leadership of the Armed Forces.
The rank of colonel general was imposed on the two major generals: Bayardo Ramón Rodríguez Ruiz, Chief of the General Staff, and Marvin Elías Corrales Rodríguez, Inspector General. The promotion was made official at a ceremony held at the Olof Palme Convention Center on Monday, June 2, 2025, although the new ranks had already been granted on May 9, through a Presidential Decree published in La Gaceta, the Official Gazette.
“This day (June 2) is truly a day of great significance, because you don’t just invent a rank for the sake of inventing one. This is simply about strengthening the Nicaraguan Army—the Army of Sandino, the Army born of the Revolution. That’s what this is about,” Ortega said at the end of his speech, in which he mentioned Rodríguez and Corrales only once and gave no explanation for their promotions.
The Bottleneck in the Army Remains
According to a researcher specializing in civil-military relations, the recent promotions are merely a “superficial” move that does not address the root of the problem: the institutional bottleneck in Nicaragua’s military career structure. “The promotions don’t imply changes in position, which means the promoted officers remain part of the top leadership. Those in lower-ranking positions, even if promoted in rank, have no opportunity to take on greater responsibilities within the military structure,” the expert explained.
“This is an attempt to create a false sense of upward mobility within the military career path, but inside the Army, mid- and senior-level officers know that without advancement in positions—not just in rank—there’s no way to break the bottleneck,” he continued.
From the perspective of a national security analyst, the promotions have a “mixed effect” on the military structure. “On the one hand, they ease the bottleneck slightly by allowing those lower down to rise in rank—but only in terms of titles, not actual roles,” the analyst said, adding that this distinction is crucial to understanding the real limitations of the regime’s move.
The expert described this strategy as “a deterrent against the frustration caused by the lack of upward mobility,” although “it only applies to military ranks.”
In terms of the power structure, “when it comes to positions, the bottleneck remains—especially in the General Command, which is made up of only three officers,” the analyst emphasized.
The newly appointed colonel generals Rodríguez and Corrales, along with Army General Julio César Avilés, head of the Armed Forces, form a “bottleneck” within the General Command, remaining entrenched in their positions through extensions ordered by Ortega.
Bayardo Rodríguez was promoted to brigadier general in 2009. Before that, he served as head of the Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence Directorate, and head of the Directorate of Military Operations and Plans. In April 2025, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua (GHREN) identified him as one of 54 high-ranking Nicaraguan officials “responsible for serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity” in the country—just like Avilés, as head of the Army.
Marvin Corrales is the most senior of the top military commanders promoted by Ortega, in 2007. He was trained in Intelligence and Counterintelligence, and has served as head of the Personnel and Cadres Directorate and of the Naval Force. In recent years, he has represented the Nicaraguan Army in the regime’s meetings with the governments of Russia and China.
Regime tightens control over Avilés’ succession
A former official from the Ministry of Defense noted that the new rank of colonel general now means “a brigadier general must rise two more steps—first to major general and then to colonel general—before being able to aspire to the position of top commander of the Army.”
“This means,” the official continued, “that the bottleneck for brigadier generals and other high-level posts is even more entrenched, further limiting promotion opportunities for colonels and lieutenant colonels.”
Since returning to power in 2007, Ortega has promoted 40 military officers to the rank of brigadier general, 24 of whom are still active, according to a review by CONFIDENCIAL of the Army’s annual reports, quarterly magazine editions, and press releases.
The last promotions from colonel to brigadier general -the third highest rank in the military institution- took place in September 2024, during the 45th anniversary of the Nicaraguan Army.
“With the promotion of the colonel generals, the institutional ‘bottleneck’ that blocks advancement within the Military Career remains firmly in place, and the succession of General Avilés is now predetermined to fall to one of these two major generals,” said the former Defense official.
“They are bloating the top of the military command structure with no rationale other than to foster clientelism within the institution, and this also comes at a cost to the Army’s finances—through increased salaries and pensions for top positions—at the expense of lower-ranking officers,” the source added.
The security analyst predicted that there will “undoubtedly” be “an increase in retirement pensions” for the new colonel generals, although “not so much in salary, since they were only promoted in rank, not in position or responsibilities.” However, he considered a salary increase likely, given that “the Ortega-Murillo regime is clientelist.”
Nicaragua Now Has Two ‘Three-Star’ Generals
Carlos Barrachina, a political scientist, sociologist, and researcher at Mexico’s Army and Air Force University, offered a technical and academic perspective on the changes within Nicaragua’s military. “At its core, the creation of the rank of colonel general is about institutionalizing in Nicaragua the classic figure that exists in almost all armies around the world: the three-star general,” he said.
He explained the structural logic behind the move: “There always has to be a pyramidal hierarchical scale.” The new configuration fills in the intermediate levels between brigadier generals (one star) and Army General Avilés (four stars), creating room for major generals (two stars) and now colonel generals (three stars).
The Ortega-Murillo regime created the military ranks of “colonel general, admiral, and vice admiral” through a reform to the Nicaraguan Constitution, which it passed illegally as a partial amendment in late January 2025.
Nicaragua’s Internal Military Regulations — which govern life inside the Army — previously established the general officer ranks as:
- General of the Army
- Major General
- Brigadier General
- Rear Admiral
Based on that ranking structure, Ortega created the rank of “colonel general or admiral,” which is positioned between Army General and Major General, while “vice admiral” would hold the same rank as a Major General.
The Mexican academic pointed out that the creation of “these new positions” has practical implications for the entire military structure, as it creates a “gap” between the three-star generals and the two-star generals.
Barrachina concluded that this is “an attempt to open more spaces, considering that the military elite is aging,” although he warned that “the real impact” will depend on how this policy is implemented in practice and whether it actually leads to greater mobility within the Nicaraguan military structure.
Promotions Only for Those Who “Behave”
Regarding the potential for future promotions to Major General, the security analyst advised caution: “It’s possible, but not certain, because it will depend on Ortega’s system of political favors. The path is open, if only slightly.”
However, this minimal opening will always be conditional: “If they behave, they may be promoted.”
The analyst also predicted that “there should be immediate promotions in the Air Force and Naval Force,” although he considered it “more likely” that advancements will occur within the Military Intelligence and Counterintelligence Directorate (DCIM) and the Defense Information Directorate (DID).
Both military units have been accused of conducting “political espionage” against Nicaraguan citizens, according to complaints by opposition figures and international organizations.
The civil-military relations researcher emphasized that for real change to occur within the Army, “several senior officers would have to retire, freeing up space for others to be promoted.”
He stressed that a comprehensive solution would require “restoring the proper rotation, promotion, and retirement of officers in line with the schedule established in the Military Code that was in effect in 2014.”
On January 30, 2014, the National Assembly—controlled by the regime—passed a reform to Law 181, the Military Code. The reform eliminated the prohibition on reappointing the top military commander, a measure originally established during the Army’s professionalization phase that began in 1995. Before Ortega’s reform of the Military Code, a new Army general would take office every five years.
The promotions of Rodríguez and Corrales, analysts and researchers say, reflect a strategy that combines real “institutional needs” with a “political calculation.” The Army’s power structure remains blocked by an entrenched upper echelon, even as it projects an image of military dynamism. The situation reflects the paradox from The Leopard (Il Gattopardo): “change everything so that nothing changes.”
