New York, 20 July 2026. - Cuba's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Ernesto Soberón Guzmán, reaffirmed the Cuban people's profound admiration for the South African leader at the special commemorative session of the UN General Assembly dedicated to Nelson Mandela International Day. He highlighted the lasting relevance of Mandela's legacy as a universal champion of the struggle for human dignity, equality, self-determination of peoples, and respect for international law.
In his speech, the Cuban diplomat recalled that the ties of friendship between Cuba and South Africa were founded on solidarity, internationalism, and shared sacrifice. He evoked the decisive contribution of thousands of Cuban combatants and cooperants to Angola's independence and to the overthrow of the apartheid regime, as well as Mandela's expressed recognition of Cuba's disinterested solidarity with the African peoples.
Ambassador Soberón also recalled Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro's tribute to Mandela and condemned the attempts to discredit the South African leader by including him for years in arbitrary lists linked to terrorism and restricting his access to U.S. territory. He emphasized that no campaign could tarnish the prestige of a man who remains a universal symbol of peace, unity, and resistance in the face of injustice.
In this vein, he affirmed that truly honoring Mandela's legacy demands standing up against all contemporary forms of racism, colonialism, foreign occupation, discrimination, and unilateral economic coercion. It also requires defending the sovereign equality of states and promoting an international order based on solidarity, cooperation, and full respect for international law.
In closing, the Permanent Representative reiterated Cuba's strong commitment to the guiding ideas of Nelson Mandela's life and to the building of a more just, peaceful, and inclusive world—one where human dignity, equality, and the right of all peoples to freedom from domination and injustice prevail.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations