Paul Mashatile Says the ANC Will Never Cease to Support Cuba

The seventh Africa-Cuba Solidarity Conference was held in White River following the ANC's 112 anniversary celebrations in Mbombela.

January 18, 2024 

Bongekile Khumalo

Delivering his keynote address at the seventh Africa-Cuba Solidarity Conference, the ANC deputy president, Paul Mashatile, said the ANC and Africa will not end their partnership and solidarity with Cuba.

He said the solidarity with this country in the Caribbean has been in good standing since its inception.

“The African continent has benefited vastly from this solidarity, and it goes beyond the support between the country and the African continent. We have many qualified professionals through international programmes, such as medical doctors and engineers, who received their qualifications in Cuba and came back to plough back into their African communities. Through this, the ANC is positive that more can be achieved through the solidarity.

“We also call upon the US to cease the embargo against Cuba. This is an economic war which affects not only Cuba, but the African continent. We support peace. We will be conducting campaigns to portray our support for Cuba,” Mashatile said.

The conference commenced at the ANEW Resort White River on January 15, just after the ANC celebrated its 112th anniversary in Mbombela.

The president of the Institute Cubano de Armistad, Fernando González Llort, was in attendance, along with representatives of organisations supporting the solidarity.

The president of the Institute Cubano de Armistad, Fernando González Llort.

Mashatile said the conference sought to strengthen international solidarity and co-operation with Cuba for a new and just world order, while deepening cultural exchange, education and healthcare collaborations, to strengthen economic and socio-economic justice and human rights and navigate through the focus of the diaspora engagement for global solidarity.