By Rubén G. Abelenda (*)
In the midst of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic that plagues humanity and despite the pressure exerted by the United States, Africa once again demonstrated its eternal solidarity with Cuba in the fight that the largest of the Antilles is waging against the intensified blockade that Washington has been imposing on it for six decades.
This repeated courageous and sovereign conduct of the continent, forgotten and plundered not by a few, but much loved and helped by Cubans, was confirmed once again in the high-level segment of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). which was in session this week virtually.
From the presidents of small and low-income countries, such as the Gambia, to those of greater territorial extension and strength, such as South Africa, they exposed their positions of rejection of the economic, commercial and financial siege that the United States cruelly intensifies, to the Caribbean island.
In their interventions before the UNGA, the African leaders, including the Gambian, Adama Barrow, called for the normalization of the ties between Washington and Havana to promote friendly relations between the States, and others such as the South African, Cyril Ramaphosa, reiterated the demand to definitive end to the blockade of Cuba.
Ramaphosa also did so as the current president of the African Union (AU), a continental organization that each year adopts within itself a resolution rejecting the aggressive policy towards the Antillean island of successive administrations of the White House.
Other dignitaries, such as that of Guinea Bissau, Úmaro Sissoco Embaló, described Cuba as a champion in all world struggles for health, especially during this COVID 19 pandemic, and expressed that it always remains on the front line to help the world.
Similar pronouncements were made in their respective speeches by the leaders of Namibia, Hage Geingob; of São Tomé and Príncipe, Evaristo do Espirito Santo Carvalho; of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema-Mbasogo; of Gabon, Ali Bongo Ondimba; of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso; from Burkina Faso, Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, from Kenya, UhuruKenyatta;and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Chad, Moussa FakiMahamat, among others.
I quote a tweet from my colleague ambassador to the US, José Ramón Cabañas: «Not because it happens every year, it ceases to pleasantly move the solidarity and brotherhood that African nations showed for Cuba at the UNGA, common roots, common stories.»
Cuba and Africa, twinned by their blood, their struggles, cultures and religions battle together towards a better future, a more just future. The grateful ones will always continue to accompany each other.
(*) Ambassador of Cuba in the Gambia
"An Island on a Continent" 