Cuba gained independence in 1902 after a long struggle with Spain. This struggle that preceded the island’s liberation was so intense that it attracted the largest state in the region. The United States tied the defeat of Spain to its national security priorities. Eventually, the United States and independence forces defeated Spain in 1898. It would take decades for the majority of African countries to attain self-rule.
Geographically, Cuba is the largest of the West Indies Island states. It is officially a Communist state but has allowed some private enterprise in recent times as it seeks to diversify its economy, albeit incrementally.
Apart from the United States, no single country in the Americas has influenced post-independence Africa the way Cuba did, especially in the 20th century. Cuba’s small size and modest economy could not impede its determination to impact the second-largest continent in the world.
Before the Revolution in 1959, the country’s connection to Africa was limited to its African population which was mainly sent there during the slave trade. Later, Cuba would use that as justification for its audacious interventions and expeditions in Africa.
As early as during the Algerian War of Independence Cuba had sent military missions to North Africa. It believed that its ideals were in line with Algerians who were fighting French colonialism. To Havanna, any move against imperialism fell under its purview.
In Southern Africa, Cuba had been more consequential. The success of the left in the Angolan Civil War could be largely credited to Cuba—especially before the end of the Cold War. At their peak Cuban forces had reached about 40,000 personnel in Angola. Interestingly, the youngest son of Ernesto “Che" Guevara had fought in the Angolan Civil War in the 1980s. Namibia’s independence and the end of Apartheid had Cuban influence. The negotiations that involved Apartheid South Africa resulted in South-West Africa becoming independent Angola.
The commitment of Cuba to Africa was so unflinching that at a point in the 1960s, it had issues with the Soviet lackadaisical attitude towards the continent. The island felt that the Soviet Union’s commitment to Africa—Angola in particular—was not sufficient to aid partisans and fighters in defeating opponents who had the backing of colonial and imperial powers.
In West Africa, Cuba was militarily involved in the struggle for self-rule in Guinea-Bissau. With a Maoist, Amilcar Cabral, leading the resistance, the Caribbean Island resolved to lend significant support to liberate the country from the vestiges of Portuguese colonialism.
In Southern Africa, Mozambique was another country where Cuban forces had operated, albeit to a far lesser extent.
In Ethiopia, Cuba sent forces after leftists had taken over the country and ousted Emperor Haile Selassie—Ethiopia’s powerful monarch. This was in pursuit of Soviet policy in the Horn of Africa. At a point, Ethiopia nearly became a flash point of a Soviet-US direct clash—something the world dreaded and could have redefined the nomenclature of the Cold War.
In the DRC, Cuban forces were not much consequential as Western-backed Mobutu forces and Southern African mercenaries pushed the communists back. Ernesto Guevara will later come back to Congo with no "immediate" success.
Notably, Cuba’s engagements in Africa had not been all “fighting”. The country, after the revolution had trained thousands of doctors and developed a robust health system. This became a “soft power” tool as it sent medical missions across Africa. Ghana and many African countries continue to receive Cuban doctors in bilateral arrangements that our favorable to recipient states.
After the Cold War, when the use of forces had become unnecessary, and Cuba had economic challenges, its “health diplomacy” proved to be an important factor for the country’s continued importance in Africa. Many reports also put the sector ahead of many countries with larger and more advanced economies.
These among others make Cuba a respected country on the continent. Even countries that had disagreed with Cuba’s presence in Africa admire its role.
Security issues:
While Cuba has experienced political stability since the 1960’s, in recent decades the country has particularly focused on reforming its economy into a hybrid that allows some level of private enterprise. This seems to be central to the country’s national security goals as the youth seek to take advantage of such reforms.
Another major security concern that borders on Cuba’s economy has been the decades-old embargo imposed by the United States. The embargo by the wealthiest nation in the world which is just 300 nautical miles away from the island has immensely affected the latter. Many African states have consistently called for its lifting. Despite the move by the Obama administration to start a normalization of relations between the two states much was reversed under the Trump administration.
Verdict:
Cuba occupies a special place in the modern history of Africa. Its contributions to the liberation struggle on the continent make it a special ally to many countries in the continent. Even though the island’s ideological weight has waned considerably, its “health diplomacy” continues to make it notable. The relations between Cuba and many African states are likely to continue in the coming decades.
