SPLM acknowledges Cuban support during liberation struggle

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party has acknowledged the support they got from the Cuban government during the liberation struggle

By BenjaminTakpiny

The Sudan People’s Liberation Movement (SPLM) party has acknowledged the support they got from the Cuban government during the liberation struggle.

 Bol Makueng, the SPLM Secretary for External Relations on Friday said the Cuban government helped train zonal commanders and the Red Army members during the war of liberation against the then oppressive regime in Sudan.

“Cuba played a vital role in supporting the movement, training them militarily, and our zonal commanders were also trained in Cuba, 600 children of the Red Army went to Cuba and they also gave us medical and technical support. So, there was a lot that we benefited from Cuba,” Makueng told journalists in Juba after arriving from South Africa.

Makueng had accompanied the SPLM Secretary General Peter Lam Both to Seventh African Continental Meeting of Solidarity with Cuba held in Pretoria, South Africa from January 15 to 17.

He said that the majority rule in South Africa would have not been achieved, if Cuba was not involved militarily and politically to help bring down the Apartheid regime in South Africa.

The duo was among the representatives from 295 political parties from across the globe that attended the conference.

Makueng said that the conference in South Africa focused on strengthening solidarity between the African countries and the Cuban revolutionary government.

“We presented a position and the Secretary General passed the greetings and assurances from Comrade Chairman and President Salva Kiir Mayardit, telling them that South Sudan greets you a lot and also South Sudan stands in solidarity with the Cuban people and Africa,” he said.

 “We promised through the statement of the Secretary-General to continue to have solidarity with the Cuban people. We have promised to continue with Cuba in terms of relationship,” Makueng disclosed.

He said that they met and interacted with many political parties and benefited from the meetings.

“We have had meetings with the African National Congress (ANC) and all other African political parties. The discussions were covered positively and benefited the SPLM, the people of South Sudan, and the people of Africa,” Makueng said.

He added that Cuba really supported the liberation of Africa.                      

“We promised through the statement of the Secretary General Peter Lam Both to have a continuous solidarity with the Cuban people, the revolutionary government and also with our African brothers and sisters saying that the United Africa should be free,” Makueng said.

South Sudan won independence on July 9, 2011 after decades of war against successive governments in Sudan.

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