In full harmony with the historical ties between Cuba and Namibia, the current leaders of SWAPO have expressed their support for the defense of island sovereignty in the face of the intensified US blockade.
By: Amado René del Pino Estenoz
digital@juventudrebelde.cu
Beyond Cuba's decisive contribution to the defeat of apartheid in southern Africa and the subsequent founding of the Republic of Namibia in 1990, the Cuban people have been the recipients of the highest expressions of admiration from the founding fathers of the Namibian nation. Both Sam Nujoma, Namibia's first president and founder of the South West African People's Organization (SWAPO), and Hage Geingob, the architect of the constitution, have extolled the value and significance of the bilateral ties between Windhoek and Havana.
In that same vein of diplomatic sovereignty and ideological consistency, the current president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has defended the Cuban sociopolitical project in an international context burdened by imperialist bluster and recurring attacks on multilateralism.
One of the most recent occasions on which the Namibian state expressed its historical gratitude to the Cuban people was on May 5, 2026, during the main event commemorating the 48th anniversary of the Cassinga Massacre. In the Omusati region, in the heart of Ovambo culture, Cuban and Namibian authorities jointly called for an end to the memory of one of the greatest atrocities committed by colonialism on African soil.
What better occasion for Namibian President Nandi-Ndaitwah to emphasize the significance of this tragic event for the strengthening of Cuban-Namibian ties, which currently encompass the professional, health, diplomatic, and commercial spheres?
Just as Claudia Sheinbaum earned global admiration in recent months for her unwavering defense of Cuban sovereignty in the face of energy pressure and media attacks on its national model, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's resounding expressions of support in various forums could be considered comparable to the Mexican president's noble gesture.
Both in the aforementioned commemoration of the Cassinga Massacre, and in the State of the Nation speech delivered before the Namibian Parliament on April 8, 2026, the leader has called for the fulfillment of the majority will of the international community to end the genocidal blockade suffered by the Cuban people, a design endorsed year after year by overwhelmingly favorable votes for the largest of the Antilles in the United Nations General Assembly.
Earlier, at the State House, during the New Year's greeting to the Diplomatic Corps accredited in Windhoek, the Namibian President expressed to Cuban Ambassador Sergio Vigoa de la Uz her strong support for the Caribbean nation in its collective effort to consolidate economic development and social inclusion under decidedly adverse conditions due to the intensification of the US blockade.
In addition to Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's fervent support for the Cuban Revolution, our nation has also received the public backing of the Speaker of the Namibian National Assembly, Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila, who met with members of the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association (NAMCUFA) on April 8.
According to a statement signed by NAMCUFA Secretary General Cecilia Muzile on February 12, 2026, following Trump's executive order, it was unheard of to invoke alleged attacks on U.S. national security to escalate anti-Cuban rhetoric and subject Cuban citizens to onerous shortages of fuel, medicine, and food.
Alongside the statements from the main leaders of SWAPO and the Namibia-Cuba Friendship Association, the recent communiqué from the "Patria" Association of Cubans Residing in Namibia was also released, advocating for Cuba's legitimate right to determine its sociopolitical system and development model.
Undoubtedly, beyond bilateral reciprocity and good diplomatic understanding, Havana and Windhoek will continue to exchange solidarity actions that are especially valuable during these times of greatest challenge for both nations. To the delight of current generations, the homelands of Fidel and Nujoma will continue to be united above imperial blockades or false narratives.
