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R 030855Z AUG 09
FM AMEMBASSY WINDHOEK
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0691
INFO USINT HAVANA

C O N F I D E N T I A L WINDHOEK 000280 
 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/29/2019 
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR CU WA
SUBJECT: RAUL CASTRO VISITS NAMIBIA 
 
REF: WINDHOEK 235 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Dennise Mathieu for Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
¶1. (SBU) Following on the heels of a much-publicized visit by 
Russian president Dmitry Medvedev (reftel), the Government of 
Namibia welcomed Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz on July 19 
to Windhoek. The day-and-a-half-long visit, Castro's first to 
the southern African country, included a meeting with 
President Hifikepunye Pohamba, a state dinner, a meeting with 
former president Sam Nujoma, and a visit to Heroes Acre, but 
did not include the signing of cooperative agreements. End 
Summary. 
 
------------------------------------------ 
Renewing Friendship, Expanding Cooperation 
------------------------------------------ 
 
¶2. (U) On July 19 and 20, Cuban President Raul Castro Ruz, in 
Africa to attend the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit in 
Cairo, stopped briefly in Namibia before continuing on to 
Angola. Castro was accompanied by the Army Corps General 
Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Vice President of the Council of 
Ministers Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
Bruno Rodriguez Parrilla, and other members of the 
parliament. Flanked by cultural performers and a flag-waving 
crowd of Namibians dressed in the colors of the ruling 
Southwest Africa People's Organization (SWAPO), the Cuban 
president was welcomed at the airport by President 
Hifikepunye Pohamba, Prime Minister Nahas Angula, several 
ministers, and several Cubans residing in Namibia. 
 
¶3. (U) During an evening meeting at State House on July 19, 
Pohamba and Castro reaffirmed their countries' friendship and 
expressed a desire to strengthen ties. Pohamba told the press 
after the discussion that Cuba could assist Namibia with the 
maintenance of roads and other infrastructure as well as the 
repair of government-owned plants and machinery. He suggested 
that the Cuban government could also provide training for the 
new school of medicine, which has yet to break ground, and 
the new engineering school at the University of Namibia. 
Without elaborating, Pohamba noted that Namibia would welcome 
Cuban government assistance on issues related to agriculture, 
food security, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, as well 
as maritime management. 
 
¶4. (U) In a joint communiqu, Castro and Pohamba attested to 
their desire to expand bilateral cooperation on pressing 
global issues. Both presidents agreed to undertake joint 
efforts to contribute towards building world peace, reforming 
the United Nations system, strengthening the UN General 
Assembly, promoting sustainable development, confronting 
climate change, and opening dialogue on human rights. In 
addition, both leaders expressed their belief that the global 
financial crisis demands the establishment of a new economic, 
commercial, and financial world order that takes into account 
the interests of developing countries. 
 
¶5. (U) Cuban-Namibian cooperation builds on a friendship that 
predates independence. The Cuban government provided military 
personnel and equipment to the People's Liberation Army of 
Namibia (PLAN), the military wing of SWAPO during the 
liberation struggle. After independence, Namibia and Cuba 
signed several bilateral agreements, most notably one which 
established the Joint Commission for Economic, Scientific, 
Technical and Trade Cooperation. New areas of engagement, in 
the health, environment, trade, and other sectors, were 
announced in June during the tenth session of the joint 
commission of cooperation between Cuba and Namibia, which 
took place in Havana. For years, the Cuban government has 
supplied doctors to Namibia (currently 143) as well as 
offered scholarships and educational opportunities in Cuba to 
Namibian students (currently 130). 
 
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Pomp and Circumstance 
--------------------- 
 
¶6. (C) At a state banquet in Castro's honor, Pohamba gave a 
speech celebrating Cuban-Namibian friendship. In his remarks, 
he called for the immediate release of the "Cuban Five." For 
his part, Castro thanked Namibia for standing by his country 
through hurricanes and "an economic blockade and aggression 
for over 40 years." According to one guest, the leisurely 
dinner featured several songs performed by the Namibia-Cuba 
Friendship Association, a group representing the 600 refugees 
who fled to Cuba during the independence struggle. In 
addition, Fisheries and Marine Resource Minister Abraham 
Iyambo, who studied in Cuba, made a speech in fluent Spanish. 
On a side note, Marco Hausiku, Minister of Foreign Affairs 
and former PLAN fighter, brought a photograph of and 
subsequently located a Cuban fighter with whom he served at 
the battle of Cuito Canavale. 
 
¶7. (U) Before departing, Castro paid a visit to former 
president and founding father Sam Nujoma at which he declared 
Cuba's commitment to continue its robust relationship with 
Namibia. Accompanied by Pohamba, Castro then laid a wreath at 
Heroes Acre, Namibia's monument to those who died during the 
liberation struggle. 
 
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Comment 
------- 
 
¶8. (C) Heavy on ceremony and light on substance, Castro's 
brief visit underscored the strong friendship between Namibia 
and Cuba. No new agreements were signed during the visit, and 
the joint communiqu reads similarly to the one Pohamba 
signed with Medvedev during the Russian president's visit in 
June. Pohamba's banquet speech, described as "way 
over-the-top" by one diplomat in attendance, and his airport 
welcome, may have provided Pohamba with an opportunity to 
campaign informally for the general election in November. 
Cuba's support of SWAPO during the liberation struggle still 
resonates strongly with many Namibians. Similarly, Cuba's 
assistance in the education and health sectors is widely 
known and appreciated. 
 
 
MATHIEU