Miriam Morales is the Cuban Ambassador to Nigeria. She believes her nation has been held again by a number of sanctions imposed by Washington and calls on Nigeria and different well-meaning international locations to put an finish to the sanctions which have introduced sorrow, tears and blood to the folks of Cuba. Michael Olugbode brings you an excerpt.
You have been on this nation for a while now. What is your impression of Nigeria, its quite a few cultures and its folks?
It is a wide ranging and unforgettable optimistic impression. Multiculturalism enriches tradition and, normally, the lives of folks and international locations. Nigerian tradition is various and stunning, and so are Nigerians. Getting together with Nigerians and studying day by day about the nation’s historical past, traditions and religious richness have been an infinite privilege.
Can you inform us about the highs and lows of your tour of obligation up to now in the nation?
For each Cuban ambassador, the central goal is to develop pleasant, mutually respectful and advantageous cooperation and relations, each with the peoples and the governments of the respective host international locations. For a Cuban, being posted as an envoy to an African nation, in my case Nigeria, constitutes an amazing problem, bearing in mind our nice African heritage. Our histories and cultures are so deeply intertwined that solely good issues can come from relations between our peoples and governments. That alone makes any highs and lows completely irrelevant.
Anyway, life itself is full of highs and lows, and it’s only our inside power and resilience that allow us to transfer ahead, discover options and develop.
What is the bilateral relationship like between Nigeria and Cuba, and what are the commerce figures?
Bilateral relations between Cuba and Nigeria had been established in July 1974, and their 52nd anniversary was celebrated in July 2026. These relations are based on deep historic, cultural and ancestral ties, in addition to mutual respect.
We preserve an in depth partnership, historically centered on sectors akin to well being, schooling, human useful resource improvement, science and sports activities, together with the trade of scholarship recipients and the presence of Cuban medical personnel. There is a shared dedication to strengthening financial, political and cultural hyperlinks for the profit of each peoples.
Which areas do you assume want enchancment?
The present world scenario, through which sanctions, blackmail, impositions and wars are getting used as an alternative of cooperation and diplomacy, is imposing heavy burdens on international locations worldwide. That constitutes an indisputable fact, and I’m not talking particularly about Nigeria.
But let me let you know that your query may strongly stimulate the thoughts of any ambassador and lead to a scenario through which there wouldn’t be sufficient area in your crucial newspaper to publish the solutions.
But, going straight again to your query, the world scenario I used to be speaking about is especially demanding for a small nation like Cuba. Cuba is the solely nation in the world subjected to the longest and most inhumane blockade in trendy historical past, now coupled with new sanctions launched weekly, a gasoline blockade and the everlasting risk of navy aggression. All these measures are meant to flip my nation again right into a subjugated colonial state underneath US rule, because it was till January 1959.
However, Cuba has made resistance and creativity the core of its present endeavours. A brand new financial and social coverage and programme is deeply reworking financial, commerce, monetary and funding relations, backed by highly effective and enduring legislative exercise. All these efforts are bringing Cuba into line with worldwide requirements for funding, cooperation and enterprise normally, with out abandoning the highly effective social justice elements which have all the time characterised our definition of socialism and will proceed to accomplish that.
I’m assured that this whole course of is already providing new potentialities for additional growing a bilateral relationship akin to that between Cuba and Nigeria, which has historically been guided by optimistic mutual pursuits.
An ambassador would not often favour mentioning particular, remoted points or areas the place extra may very well be accomplished. Both international locations will proceed working collectively in areas the place optimistic outcomes have been achieved and will certainly discover new and various avenues to strengthen their bilateral relationship.
Nigerians used to go to Cuba for coaching in medication, however that appears to have modified. What modified?
Bilateral relations between Cuba and Nigeria have all the time rested on mutual respect. The doorways of the Latin American School of Medicine and these of each different greater schooling establishment in Cuba will all the time be open to Nigerian college students.
Cuba was a rustic that was on an upward trajectory, however this appears to have modified over time. What may have been liable for this?
Almost instantly after the triumph of the Cuban Revolution, the US broke off relations and adopted a really hostile coverage in the direction of my nation. From the very starting, the foremost purpose was to destroy the beacon of independence and sovereignty that the Revolution represented to all the subjugated international locations in the Latin American area, which had suffered for many years underneath the oppression of successive dictatorships with direct political, monetary and navy help from Washington.
The present blockade coverage is merely the codification and highest expression of all the aggressive actions set in movement by the US since the early years of the Revolution, together with the navy invasion internationally generally known as the Bay of Pigs invasion, which represented, for the US, its first navy defeat in Latin America.
Cuba was then compelled to restructure all its financial, commerce and monetary relations and discover new companions round the world. The former socialist international locations of Eastern Europe, led by the Soviet Union at the time, turned new companions for Cuba, based mostly, normally phrases, on shared political and ideological positions. Some different international locations outdoors that bloc, in Africa, the Middle East and even Europe, additionally entered into this new relationship to various levels.
When the so-called socialist bloc in Eastern Europe collapsed and the former Soviet Union disintegrated, Cuba was as soon as once more left with virtually no markets, commerce, monetary cooperation or funding. That dramatic scenario led to the institution of what turned generally known as the Special Period in my nation, severely affecting the upward trajectory you have got referred to.
My nation was as soon as once more compelled to rebuild all its exterior financial relations. Important socioeconomic modifications had been additionally launched to modify to the new and difficult scenario. These included opening the nation to mass worldwide tourism and starting to remodel the Cuban authorized system in relation to international funding.
Despite navigating a really tough financial path, the nation was ultimately in a position to start a brand new interval of upward development.
The scenario in Latin America had began to change with the successive defeat of dictatorships and the institution of progressive governments with totally different political traits. Strong South-South cooperation, in keeping with modern ideas, emerged however was attacked by Washington by way of varied means. All this raised hopes throughout the area by opening the approach for a brand new, qualitative kind of cooperation.
In the case of Cuba and Venezuela, opposite to US propaganda, a extremely mutually helpful relationship developed, which additionally had a optimistic influence on the Latin American area. So, as soon as once more, to return to your query, this ushered in a brand new interval of upward development.
It is critical to take into accounts that US hostility and its blockade coverage towards Cuba have endured for greater than six a long time. Only modifications in our area quickly opened the approach for Cuba, to use your phrases, to transfer upwards once more. Throughout this era, we by no means misplaced sight of the proven fact that the US’s aggressive coverage towards my nation was being completely bolstered. It escalated immensely throughout Donald Trump’s first presidency and acquired a genocidal character along with his return to the White House.
There have been weekly bulletins of new sanctions, the introduction of a gasoline blockade and fixed threats of attainable navy aggression. I’m positive you realize the relaxation of that historical past, together with the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and the whole lot that adopted. These developments have created a brand new and difficult surroundings, not just for Cuba however for the complete Latin American area.
Could the dying of your nice chief, Fidel Castro, have accounted for this, or maybe the American blockade? Or is it that communism is now not in vogue and your allies have dried up?
Without any nation having actually skilled life underneath communism—which, in our view, can’t merely emerge from a proclamation—we contemplate it the highest degree of socioeconomic improvement, social justice and well-being for all, with out simplistic egalitarianism. It is an alternate for humanity to what a number of left-wing politicians, economists and philosophers have described as savage capitalism.
But that’s solely a tough definition. The overwhelming majority of Cubans nonetheless mourn, and will proceed to mourn, the dying of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro. His deeds and legacy stay, and will proceed to stay, a political and human inspiration for the Cuban folks as we proceed constructing an alternate to brutal capitalism. We name it socialism.
The achievements and instance of the Cuban Revolution are traditionally linked to Fidel Castro and the heroism of the Cuban folks. Their affect extends far past our nation, as you have got certainly seen in the celebrations of Fidel Castro’s centenary this 12 months in Cuba and round the world.
The instance and affect of the Cuban Revolution should, with none doubt, be immensely robust if we contemplate the genocidal and irrational hostility of the world’s foremost financial and navy superpower in its makes an attempt to destroy it.
The US’s asphyxiating, unlawful and genocidal blockade coverage has all the time been the foremost issue stopping the improvement of Cuba and its folks, and it continues to be so at this time.
As the week drew to an in depth, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla strongly rejected aggressive statements and threats made towards Cuba by President Trump.
During a marketing campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump claimed that US warships would “pass by” Cuba upon coming back from a battle in Iran and said that he would ship Marco Rubio to “close the deal”—or, in different phrases, to negotiate the scenario in the nation. Subsequently, Marco Rubio, writing on his X account, publicly urged Cuban residents to collaborate discreetly with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to push for political change on the island.
If not, what may clarify US Secretary of State Marco Rubio main a marketing campaign of defamation, lies and hatred towards the island and its folks, whereas threatening, blackmailing and intimidating impartial, sovereign states with the spectre of unlawful sanctions in an effort to change their longstanding place of help for the UN decision calling for the elimination of the financial, commerce and monetary embargo towards Cuba on October 28?
What is the relationship between your nation and America like? What about different international locations, particularly China and Russia, which have deep roots in socialism?
The Cuban authorities and folks don’t have any destructive or hostile emotions in the direction of the American folks. In reality, there was a rising sentiment amongst the American folks in favour of a change in coverage in the direction of Cuba, with requires the elimination of the blockade and descriptions of it as ineffective and out of date. That sentiment is stronger at this time than ever earlier than.
As for these in the White House, the Cuban authorities, even underneath the present circumstances, has reiterated its readiness to focus on any challenge relating to bilateral relations on an equal footing. It additionally believes there are concrete areas for mutually helpful cooperation.
In Cuba’s place, there is no such thing as a room for impositions of any type, dictating the kind of political system Cuba ought to have or imposing modifications in the Cuban management. Cuba won’t ever give up its independence and sovereignty.
Some communication channels stay open, though it has not been attainable to set up an agenda for dialogue. Nevertheless, high-ranking representatives of the US authorities, together with President Donald Trump, proceed to declare from time to time that talks are happening, as half of what we contemplate a disinformation marketing campaign and an irresponsible urge for food for faux information.
These claims have been accompanied by persistent hostile actions, akin to final week’s resolution by Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier to cost Army General Raúl Castro with conspiracy to commit first-degree homicide. The cost was based mostly largely on a federal indictment introduced final May that included allegations regarding the downing of an plane belonging to the organisation “Brothers to the Rescue”, which Cuba considers a terrorist organisation.
There was additionally the US mission to the United Nations orchestrating an anti-Cuba occasion at UN headquarters, in what we contemplate a direct violation of the UN Charter, as half of the marketing campaign surrounding the October 28 UN decision on the blockade.
Our relations with Russia and China are based mostly on deep-rooted historic ties, cooperation and exchanges in virtually all areas of mutual bilateral curiosity, together with worldwide affairs. They additionally contain various organisations striving to place worldwide collaboration in a distinct perspective, emphasising mutually helpful tasks and programmes inside the framework of South-South cooperation.
Have you thought of assembly America midway for the blockade to be lifted?
The Cuban authorities has reiterated a number of instances that it’s open to dialogue and negotiations on the foundation I’ve already defined.
The blockade is de facto affecting Cuba. Do you assume the worldwide group has accomplished sufficient to help Cuba in getting it lifted?
On October 27 and 28, the UN General Assembly will contemplate, for the thirty fourth time, the decision entitled “Need to put an end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States of America against Cuba”.
The overwhelming majority of UN member states have traditionally rejected the US blockade towards Cuba, regardless of the potential dangers. Threats, impositions, manoeuvres and blackmail have all the time existed, though by no means earlier than as half of such an open worldwide marketing campaign, now prioritised by what stays of US international coverage, which overtly and shamelessly reveals its brutal imperial traits.
For the first time, following the concerns made final July, the UN General Assembly will take a place by way of a decision towards the vitality blockade, the gasoline blockade and the collective punishment that such a coverage represents for the complete Cuban folks.
For a long time, the worldwide group has maintained a transparent, longstanding and virtually unanimous place in help of the instant and unconditional elimination of the blockade towards Cuba.
What is new, as I’ve already mentioned, is the existence of such a brutal marketing campaign, exemplified by an official US State Department doc despatched to its embassies, instructing them to exert strain on host governments not to vote in favour of what it describes as “Cuban propaganda”. This is as if the blockade and its humanitarian penalties weren’t half of a actuality that no person can deny.
Even underneath these unbelievable circumstances, Cuba stays assured that the decision will obtain majority worldwide help.
I would love to take this chance to categorical the profound gratitude of the Cuban authorities and folks for Nigeria’s help in the worldwide area, most notably relating to its vote in the United Nations General Assembly towards the financial, industrial and monetary blockade imposed on Cuba. I reiterate that the vote will happen on October 28.
I’m grateful to the newspaper THISDAY for offering the alternative to current the scenario in my nation inside the present context skilled by the Cuban folks.
