Public Release Statement
When the regular South African troops invaded Angola, we couldn’t stand by and do nothing. When the MPLA asked for our help, we offered them the help they needed. By Fidel Castro Ruz-former President of Cuba.
IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE OF AFRICA ON AFRICAN LIBERATION DAY
Today is May 25, 2024 and Africans around the world commemorate 61 anniversary of African Liberation Day. Historically, this is the day that signifies the creation of the Organisation for African Unity (OAU) in 1963, or the African Union (AU), as we know it today, and is meant to be a symbol for a free, united, democratic, prosperous continent. For 61 years since the liberation struggle against colonialism in Africa, the continent has grown in many wonderful ways.
Despite the many challenges Africa faces today, as volunteers of the Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity (HCIF-PFS), we join peace-loving peoples all over the world to celebrate African Liberation Day. We celebrate this day in recognition of what African people have built for themselves in a world where the continent’s colonialism is continuing in different forms.
The origin of the African Liberation Day can be traced back in 1919. At the All African Peoples Conference, held in Ghana, in 1958 it was agreed that one-day would be set aside as a national day of remembrance for African freedom fighters. Ghana had achieved its independence in 1957 and one year later Kwame Nkrumah called a conference of African workers, freedom fighters and champions for justice. Nkrumah who took up the idea of African Liberation day and successfully promoted the idea to the leaders who formed the Organization of African Unity.
When Ghana achieved its independence in 1957 Nkrumah maintained that the independence of Ghana would be “incomplete without the independence of all of Africa.” Together with the principal freedom fighters within Ghana, Nkrumah established a Pan-African Secretariat within the Ghanaian government and appointed George Padmore to run the secretariat. The task of the secretariat was to act as the coordinating point for the establishment of links with freedom fighters on the African continent and for the secretariat to be a center for information to support those fighting for freedom.
At that historical moment freedom was conceived as freedom of the peoples and freedom of the states from colonial rule. To carry forward this task the Ghanaian government deployed the resources to support freedom fighters, trade unionists and political activists for independence. This was the spirit that inspired the calling of the All-African Peoples’ Conferences in 1958. It was at this meeting where Patrice Lumumba was introduced to the wider Pan African struggles. In tandem with this people-centered activity, Nkrumah also convened the conferences of Independent African States to establish a diplomatic framework for the political union of Africa.
Therefore, African Liberation Day serves the purpose of forging unity and cooperation among the Africans. It is a call for acceleration of the Pan African struggle for peace, unity and prosperity in Africa. It’s really difficult to convince the African people why Africa has since 1963 failed to unite.
On this historic Day, today, we would like to commend Cuba for the unrelenting international solidarity and support for Africa and the African people. Unfortunately, the United States continues with the anti-Cuban aggressive policy intended to wreck havocs on the Caribbean nation, and by extension, to overthrow the legitimate and Revolutionary Government in Havana.
Besides the undeclared economic war and commercial embargo imposed on the Cuban people for over sixty years now, the brutal occupation of Guantanamo Bay, and other coercive measures and collective punishment, including deprivation, political and diplomatic sabotage, the USA has once again accelerated its wicked policy on Cuba, by falsely blacklisted Cuba on its list as a terrorist country for simply offering support to countries in need of help, including Africa, Latin America, the Caribbean region, etc.
This policy of collective punishment imposed on Cuba and the Cuban people is totally unacceptable and we call upon all peace-loving people around the world to reject this latest action and decision of the US to threaten the existence of the Cuban nation. Cuba, like any other country reserves the right to peaceful existence under a Government of Cubans, by Cubans and for the dignity and happiness of the Cuban nation.
As we commemorate African Liberation Day 2024, we call also upon all Africans at home and abroad to say no to US unjust wars against Cuba and the Cuban people. We call also for African governments and leaders to shoulder their responsibility to the citizens of Africa everywhere. This is our position and we are communicating this to prick the conscience of the international public, for the good of humanity.
Africa must live!
Sender:
(Madam) Ambassador Yeanoh Kamara
Assistant International Executive Director
The Hugo Chavez International Foundation for Peace, Friendship and Solidarity
HCIF-PFS
Embacuba Sierra Leona