The  African National Congress (ANC) and its allies the South African Communist Party (SACP), the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), the South African National Civic Organisation (Sanco), the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (ICAP) and the Friends of Cuba Society (Focus) are urging African countries to take a principled stance and mobilise all its people and additional resources in solidarity with Cuba.

The alliance is hosting the seventh African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba in Mpumalanga this week.

The alliance and Cuban solidarity civil society organisations said they stand united against the “unjust” US economic, trade, investment and financial blockade of Cuba.

A 2021 estimate by the Cuban government found that since the blockade began in 1962, it has cost the country close to $144-billion, a figure that has been acknowledged by the US, said the ANC-led alliance.

The alliance described it as an “imperialist blockade” that is inclusive of unilateral sanctions outside of and undermining the US’ legal and multilateral frameworks.

“It is, altogether with the immoral sanctions, illegal. Through economic warfare, and in addition political and propaganda attacks on Cuba's sovereignty and government, the US seeks to takeover Cuba's fundamental right to national self-determination, drive regime change and impose its development path on Cuba,” said the ANC-led alliance.

The US blockade on Cuba has far-reaching extra-territorial impact, blocking other countries and their companies from building or enhancing trade and investment relations and engaging in financial transactions with Cuba, explained the alliance.

“Our solidarity with the Cuban government and people is based on our support for their right to choose their own path of transformation and development, free from external interference or domination,” it added.

The alliance said that it stands united in its support for the Cuban government and people's just demand for the US to end, unconditionally, its occupation of Guantanamo Bay, an inseparable part of Cuba's territory.

STRENGTHENING AVENUES

The ANC-led alliance highlighted that the African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba aims to explore and strengthen avenues for deepening international solidarity with Cuba.

The Meeting is a pan-African platform for nations, organisations and individuals to come together and strengthen global solidarity with Cuba and will focus on honouring the country for its contribution to the struggle for human dignity, recognising its social and political achievements, exploring deeper and meaningful economic cooperation, and the struggle against the “inhumane” blockade.

“By bringing several role-players together, including delegates representing governments, organisations and individuals, the meeting aims to identify international solidarity tasks and promote long-lasting internationalism with Cuba,” said the alliance.

South Africa hosted the first African Continental Solidarity Meeting with Cuba in 1995 and the other five meetings took place in Ghana in 1997, Angola in 2010, Ethiopia in 2012, Namibia in 2017 and Nigeria in 2019.