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The South African Communist Party (SACP) notes the decision of the United States government to remove Cuba from the list of the so-called “state sponsors of terrorism”. In the first place, Cuba should never have been included on the list.

The removal of Cuba from this list is a belated act by the United States government after discovering that it is virtually impossible to defeat the united people of Cuba. As the SACP, we have consistently been calling for the removal of Cuba from the list, which the United States draws up unilaterally – without any international mandate or recognition. 

Cuba has been a victim of various acts of terrorism, which were overtly or covertly supported by the United States, on the one hand, all while Cuba, on the other, has been one of the leading nations in the genuine fight against terrorism.

The United States’ anti-Cuba stance has caused hardships for the Cuban nation, particularly economically, including by blocking access to crucial supplies. 

In the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021, the Cuban government lost more than 40 relations with financial and banking institutions. This hampered its fight against Covid-19, in addition to negative effects felt by the healthcare system. 

Cuba was deprived of access to financial transactions by more than a thousand financial banking institutions in the last four to five years due to the arbitrary inclusion on the illegitimate list.

Despite the attack on Cuba, the people of Cuba, with the active support of the overwhelming majority of the people across the globe, persevered and stabilised their country’s people-based system. 

On 30 October 2024, the United Nations General Assembly, once again, voted overwhelmingly for the United States to end its illegal economic, investment, trade, financial and development blockade of Cuba. This vote renewed the United Nations’ demand it has made on behalf of the peace-loving people of the world annually since 1992. A total of 187 governments representing their nations voted in favour, while only two governments, the United States together with its apartheid settler state ally, Israel, voted against the resolution. Ultimately, the imperialist regime of the United States had no choice but to yield to the demands of the world, albeit adopting a limited scope as it remains intransigently committed to its imperialist agenda.

The SACP conveys its message of solidarity with the Cuban people and government in the continued fight against the imperialist aggression currently spearheaded by the United States. The SACP will continue to support the total lifting of the illegal blockade and calls for the United States to end its occupation of Cuba’s Guantanamo Bay with immediate effect and unconditionally. 

The SACP salutes the brave people and government of Cuba and commits to ongoing solidarity until they sustainably achieve the justice and freedom they so rightfully deserve. 

We stand with Cuba in its fight, which is a fight for all of humanity against imperialist domination, exploitation and foreign occupation. 

Issued by South African Communist Party