El Salvador Civil War

Definition

The El Salvador Civil War was a conflict that took place from 1979 to 1992 between the military-led junta government of El Salvador and several left-wing guerrilla groups collectively known as Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).

Analogy

Imagine two siblings fighting over who gets to control what's on TV. This fight lasts for more than a decade with outside influences trying to sway who gets control. Eventually, they agree on sharing control after causing much damage to their home.

Related terms

FMLN: A coalition or umbrella group of five left-wing militias that fought against the government forces during El Salvador's civil war.

Death Squads: Paramilitary groups that carried out extrajudicial killings, often targeting civilians suspected of supporting the guerrillas.

Peace Accords: The Chapultepec Peace Accords ended the civil war in 1992 and established a framework for political reform.