Pretoria, 28 October 2026. — The Cuban Embassy in South Africa expresses its deep satisfaction at the adoption, on 28 October 2026, of the Cuban resolution ‘Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba’ at the United Nations General Assembly, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions.
This result constitutes a fresh and resounding demonstration of global rejection of a unilateral, extraterritorial policy that contravenes international law, and which for more than six decades has affected the development and well-being of the Cuban people.
Cuba particularly appreciates the statement made by South Africa’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Mxolisi Nkosi, who condemned the impact of the blockade on the development and socio-economic conditions of the Cuban people, demanded an end to these measures and called for the resumption of dialogue between Havana and Washington, the removal of Cuba from the unilateral list of state sponsors of terrorism, and the suspension of the application of the Helms-Burton Act.
During the debate, Cuba’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, presented the resolution on behalf of the Cuban people and denounced the embargo as an act of economic warfare, collective punishment and aggression against a Member State of the United Nations. The Minister stated that “Cuba is not a threat; the embargo is”.
The Embassy expresses its deepest gratitude to the governments and peoples of South Africa, Eswatini and Lesotho for their votes in favour of the resolution. Their position reflects Southern Africa’s historic solidarity with Cuba and its commitment to justice, multilateralism and the right of all peoples to freely determine their own destiny.
(Cuban Embassy in South Africa)