How Nigeria, Cuba broke apartheid in S’Africa – Olawepo-Hashim

How Nigeria, Cuba broke apartheid in S’Africa – Olawepo-Hashim

The strategic partnership between Nigeria and Cuba contributed to the liberation of South Africa from apartheid rule, a former presidential candidate, Dr. Gbenga Olawepo-Hashim, has said.

Hashim spoke after a private meeting with Cuba’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, during the minister’s visit to Nigeria.

The businessman said his relationship with Parilla dated back to the late 1980s when both of them were active members of the International Students’ Movement.

The duo previously served as delegates to the 13th World Festival of Students in Pyongyang, North Korea, on the platform that fostered international solidarity among young political leaders.

Their meeting underscored the deep diplomatic and historical ties between the Caribbean and African nations, dating back to their shared support for liberation movements across Africa.

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Olawepo-Hashim recalled Cuba’s critical military intervention during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale in Angola in 1988, where Cuban volunteer forces fought alongside the People’s Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FAPLA) against South African troops.

“The defeat of the South African forces marked a turning point in the region’s struggle for independence, paving the way for Namibia’s independence and the eventual collapse of apartheid in South Africa.

“Cuba’s military intervention, backed by Nigeria’s strong political and diplomatic support for the anti-apartheid movement, created the momentum that ultimately led to the fall of apartheid,” he said.

He said Nigeria and Cuba share deep cultural ties, stressing that a significant portion of Cuba’s black and mulatto population can trace their ancestry to Nigeria’s Yoruba, Efik, and Ibibio ethnic groups.

“The bonds between Nigeria and Cuba go beyond politics. They are rooted in shared ancestry and a common struggle for freedom and justice,” Olawepo-Hashim added.

 

How Nigeria, Cuba broke apartheid in S’Africa – Olawepo-Hashim