# Efraín Ríos Montt

> former de facto President of Guatemala, army general, genocida and former president of Congress (1926-2018)

**Wikidata**: [Q467077](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q467077)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efraín_Ríos_Montt)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/efrain-rios-montt

## Summary
Efraín Ríos Montt was a former de facto President of Guatemala, serving as an army general and later as a member of Congress. He is most notorious for his role in the Guatemalan Civil War (1960–1996), where he oversaw a brutal military campaign that resulted in widespread human rights abuses and genocide. His tenure as president was marked by authoritarian rule and severe repression.

## Biography
- Born: June 16, 1926
- Nationality: Guatemalan
- Education: Studied at the Military Academy of Guatemala
- Known for: Authoritarian rule and human rights abuses during the Guatemalan Civil War
- Employer(s): Military Academy of Guatemala, Guatemalan military, Congress of the Republic of Guatemala
- Field(s): Military leadership, politics

## Contributions
Efraín Ríos Montt served as a military officer and later as a member of Congress before assuming the presidency in 1982. During his presidency, he implemented a military-led campaign against leftist insurgents, which resulted in the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people, including civilians. His government was characterized by extreme repression, torture, and extrajudicial killings. He was later convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court.

## FAQs
**What was Efraín Ríos Montt's role in the Guatemalan Civil War?**
Efraín Ríos Montt served as the de facto President of Guatemala from 1982 to 1983 and was a key figure in the military campaign against leftist insurgents during the Guatemalan Civil War. His government was responsible for widespread human rights abuses, including genocide and extrajudicial killings.

**What were the human rights abuses under Efraín Ríos Montt's presidency?**
Under Ríos Montt's rule, the Guatemalan military carried out a brutal campaign that resulted in the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people, including civilians. The government was characterized by extreme repression, torture, and the systematic elimination of political opponents.

**What legal consequences did Efraín Ríos Montt face?**
Efraín Ríos Montt was convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in 2013. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison but died in 2018 before the sentence could be fully carried out.

## Why They Matter
Efraín Ríos Montt's presidency is a dark chapter in Guatemalan history, marked by one of the most brutal military regimes in the 20th century. His actions had a profound and lasting impact on Guatemala, shaping its political landscape and human rights record for decades. His legacy continues to be a source of controversy and debate, with his role in the civil war and subsequent trials serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarianism and impunity.

## Notable For
- Served as de facto President of Guatemala from 1982 to 1983
- Oversaw a military campaign during the Guatemalan Civil War that resulted in widespread human rights abuses
- Convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court
- Died in 2018 before completing his prison sentence

## Body

### Early Life and Military Career
Efraín Ríos Montt was born on June 16, 1926. He studied at the Military Academy of Guatemala and rose through the ranks of the Guatemalan military. His military career included service as an officer, and he later became a member of Congress.

### Presidency and Human Rights Abuses
In 1982, Ríos Montt became the de facto President of Guatemala, succeeding Kjell Eugenio Laugerud García. His presidency was marked by authoritarian rule and a military-led campaign against leftist insurgents. The Guatemalan military carried out a brutal campaign, resulting in the deaths of an estimated 200,000 people, including civilians. The government was characterized by extreme repression, torture, and the systematic elimination of political opponents.

### Legal Consequences and Legacy
Efraín Ríos Montt was later convicted of genocide and crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court in 2013. He was sentenced to 50 years in prison but died in 2018 before the sentence could be fully carried out. His legacy continues to be a source of controversy and debate, with his role in the civil war and subsequent trials serving as a cautionary tale about the dangers of authoritarianism and impunity.

## References

1. Czech National Authority Database
2. International Standard Name Identifier
3. Virtual International Authority File
4. Encyclopædia Britannica Online
5. Munzinger Personen
6. [Source](https://pantheon.world/profile/person/Efraín_Ríos_Montt)
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. BBC Things
9. Treccani's Enciclopedia on line
10. Quora