Written by Ishyka Ahluwalia
Cuban intervention in Africa began in the early 1960s and has had significant impacts since. A Cuban leader, Fidel Castro, spotted an opportunity to take advantage of the disarray following African decolonisation, and heightened Cuba’s involvement. This has had negative repercussions in Cuba due to such heavy focus of resources in 17 African nations and 3 African insurgencies, and more specifically in Angola, where Cuban soldiers were called into frontline combat. Castro failed to address the short consequences of his actions and seemed to take a “for the greater good” approach, expecting major gains for both Cuba and the Soviet Union with the prospect of winning large portions of African territory. Due to the undeveloped state of Africa, in economic, social and political respects, Castro’s reach needed no boundaries. However, credit must be given to Castro in some areas such as his development of international relations. He undoubtably gained an ally in the Soviet Union, in terms of both trade and communist values.
After the failure of the Portuguese peace negotiations in 1975, the combat intensified. Cuba sent 230 military instructors to the MPLA (the people’s movement for the liberation of Angola), South Africa, whilst also beginning the training of troops in Namibia. When these troops did not manage substantial victories against the MPLA, South African forces directly interfered. South Africa wanted to maintain economic insecurity in the region so that they would continue to be reliant on South Africa. This rhetoric was encouraged by the USA, possibly being the cause for South Africa to delay Namibian independence due to the presence of Cuban troops. In the end the Cuban military assistance was a key factor in the MPLA victory, with almost 40,000 troops there by 1984. The independence issue of Namibia posed more complications. However, by 1988, several agreements were signed between Cuba, Angola, Namibia and South Africa, with Cuba and Angola troops agreeing to remove Cuban troops by July 1991.
South African intervention in Angola clearly altered the magnitude of the situation and therefore prompted the Organisation of African Unity to condemn South Africa whilst also refraining from judgement on Cuba and the Soviet Union. Nigeria’s protest against South Africa put together with the actions taking place in Angola highlighted the East-West power struggle on an internationalised scale.
These foreign policy choices have caused a heavy impact on Cuba’s own economic state. The cost of maintaining an army abroad took up approximately 11% of their annual budget. Inequality indexes were rapidly widening at the time and there was a clear deterioration in the quality of life. The single largest issue with a country spending so many of its materials abroad is the impact it leaves back home. There is a clear positive correlation between Cuban events in Africa and the downfall of the Cuban economy. Castro failed to prioritise the needs of his native citizens and ignored the failures that have now resulted in a battered, crippled economy, seemingly beyond repair. It should also be noted that since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Cuba’s GDP decreased by 33% (between 1990-93). This shows how such a deep dependence on another country can tie the state of your own economy to theirs i.e. their failure is your failure.
Overall, Cuban involvement in Africa had deep-set consequences that can still be felt today. Because of the nature of Cuba’s political volatility, these issues do not seem to disappear as they should over time. The actions of that period were largely Castro’s doing, without regard for the possible long-term impacts.
Commenti