Generally described as a military dictatorship, Noriega's rule in Panama was marked by repression of the media, an expansion of the military, and the persecution of political opponents, effectively controlling the outcomes of any elections.
Secara umum digambarkan sebagai kediktatoran militer, pemerintahan Noriega di Panama ditandai dengan penindasan terhadap media, perluasan kekuatan militer, dan persekusi terhadap lawan-lawan politiknya, serta secara efektif mengendalikan hasil dari setiap pemilihan umum.