Cuba commemorates 50 years of Angolan independence and friendship

With Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, in attendance the 50th anniversary of Angola's independence and its diplomatic relations with Cuba was commemorated on Tuesday afternoon.

Photos via Estudios Revolución

By Alina Perera Robbio, translated from the Spanish

The sea divides them, creating a physical distance. However, historical and emotional bonds connect Cuba and Angola, making them sister nations and two members of a unique family.

A young African once told this reporter that blood is thicker than water. This powerful statement resonated profoundly on Tuesday afternoon during the Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Angola's Independence and its diplomatic relations with Cuba, held at the Palace of the Revolution.

At the Portocarrero Hall, with the attendance of Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President of the Republic, it was inspiring to hear Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera—member of the Political Bureau and Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces—remark that "yesterday we were together in the trenches," and today "we are proud that Angola is the African country with which Cuba has the most diverse and extensive collaboration."

Just before the start of the Commemoration Act, which included attendees such as other members of the Political Bureau, leaders from the Party, the Government, the Union of Young Communists, mass organizations, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the Ministry of the Interior, the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples, and other guests, President Díaz-Canel warmly greeted representatives of the diplomatic corps who were present for the celebration.

In the protocol Hall of the Heroes, the dignitary met with friends from Angola, Djibouti, Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Cape Verde, South Africa, Jamaica, Namibia, Mozambique, and Guinea. Díaz-Canel Bermúdez conveyed to them: "Besides offering my own greetings, I have been given the task by Raúl - who knew you would be attending the event - to extend his greetings and a hug to you."

This preceded the commemorative ceremony held in the Portocarrero Hall, attended by His Excellency Mr. Carlos Cruz de Lemos Sardinha, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Angola in Cuba.

At the beginning of the event, it was remembered that on November 6, during a ceremony conducted by the President of Angola, Joao Manuel Gonzálves Lourenco, "Honor" class medals, the highest accolade, were bestowed upon Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz and Army General Raúl Castro Ruz, the leader of the Cuban Revolution.

During his speech filled with affection, Ambassador Carlos Cruz de Lemos Sardinha expressed that he was deeply moved by the responsibility of serving as his nation's representative in the Caribbean country. He offered sincere thanks to his "sisters and brothers of the beautiful Island" for the Act of Commemoration and emphasized that Cuba has consistently provided the utmost support to the African nation.

The diplomat spoke about the friendship between the two peoples, noting that geographical distance has not been an obstacle. He recalled the Cubans who traveled across the Atlantic to fight for Angola and emphasized that new generations should be aware of how the island supported the African nation during a difficult period, even though the Caribbean country was already suffering the consequences of the imperial blockade.

Carlos Cruz de Lemos Sardinha expressed gratitude to Cuba for its exemplary solidarity and steadfastness. He assured everyone present that the Caribbean country's efforts and sacrifices for Angola were not in vain.

Army Corps General Álvaro López Miera delivered the main address, starting with: "Today, we gather to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Angola's Independence proclamation, a significant milestone of freedom that echoed across Africa and the world."

"On November 11, 1975, Angola, the largest and wealthiest of the Portuguese colonies, broke the chains of colonialism with the dignity and bravery of its children, becoming a sovereign nation and marking a significant chapter in African liberation and decolonization."

The Political Bureau member noted that this independence was declared while under siege. From the North, the Zairian army, supported by mercenary forces and the South African military, attempted to occupy Luanda. Simultaneously, armored columns from apartheid South Africa advanced swiftly from the South, all racing to capture the capital.

"At that moment," added Álvaro López Miera, "of the birth of a sovereign and free Angola, Cuban internationalist fighters under the guidance of Fidel, responded to the call of the president of the MPLA, Dr. Agosthino Neto, to support the struggle against the invading forces that sought to smother the cry for independence."

"This epic of solidarity, started by 480 Cuban military instructors in the summer of 1975, materialized with Operation Carlota, which commenced weeks later on November 5, and whose fiftieth anniversary we celebrated recently.."

According to the Army Corps General, both the combatants and the Cuban people answered the call of solidarity because, as Fidel stated, "being internationalists is our way of repaying our debt to humanity."

During another part of his speech, the skilled soldier mentioned that "the independence of Angola and the enormous sacrifice of its people to preserve it, transformed this sister nation into a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples, a symbol of unwavering resistance and defense of emancipation, as well as for economic and social progress."

As Cuba continues to offer its international support in hospitals, classrooms, the construction sector, and other fields, the speaker remarked that "Operation Carlota has not ended; it has evolved. The sacrifice and legacy of those who fought resonate in every cooperation project and in every expression of gratitude."

Art, which also crossed the Atlantic to provide spiritual support to the Cuban troops during that unforgettable epic, was part of the Commemoration Act this Tuesday. Two highly esteemed artists contributed to the emotional afternoon: the musician Beatriz Márquez and the trecista Pancho Amat.

This work was translated and shared via a License CC-BY-NC