Politics and Society
Fidel Castro in pictures
The world is mourning the loss of a colossus political figure, Cuban revolutionary Commandante Fidel Castro who passed away at the age of 90. Castro passed away last week Friday, having been unwell for sometime. As tributes continue to pour in, and as the world mourns the loss of a remarkable, but divisive political figure, we look at some important moments in Castro’s political life captured on camera.
The world is mourning the loss of a colossus political figure, Cuban revolutionary Commandante Fidel Castro who passed away last week at the age of 90.
Fidel died last Friday, and his brother, and comrade-in-arms Raul Castro, announced his death in a televised statement on Saturday.
“I say to the people of Cuba, with profound pain I come here to inform our people, our friends of America and the world, that today, 25 November, 2016, at 10:29 pm, died the chief commander of the Cuban revolution, Fidel Castro Ruz,” Raul Castro said.
While the death of Fidel did not come as a shock to many, his passing has plunged Cuba and indeed Africa (where Castro has many admirers) in mourning. While Fidel’s socialist government and leadership have been criticised for curtailing political right and civil liberties in Cuba, in Castro Africa had a reliable comrade and friend. The Cuban leader was always available to lend a helping hand during the liberation struggle against colonial rule. Castro’s government also assisted African countries during the post-colonial struggle period (training teachers and doctors from various African countries).
As tributes continue to pour in, and as the world mourns the loss of a fervent revolutionary, we look back at some of Fidel Castro’s most riveting moments captured on camera.
A file picture. Cuban President Fidel Castro gestures during a speech before a demonstration Friday 14 May 2004, in front of the buiding of the US Interests Section in Havana, Cuba. Castro accused George W. Bush of seeking to impose ‘global tyranny’ and vowed to die on the front line of the battle against that alleged design. EPA/Alejandro Ernesto
Cuban President Fidel Castro (R) expresses his joy in meeting former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) at Mandela’s office in Johannesburg on Sunday 02 September 2001. Castro who took part in the UN World Racism conference in Durban used the opportunity to visit Mandela, whose health is effected by cancer. Phone: ANP/EPA Yoav Lemmer.
Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo (L) is greeted by his Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro at the Plaza de la Revolucion in Havana, April 10, 2000. Obasanjo is in Cuba as head of the Group of 77 nations summit. At least 40 of the delegations will be led by heads of state or government. Photo: ANP/EPA Yuri Cortez
Cuba’s President Fidel Castro (C) greets South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki and his wife Zanele to the official reception hosted Castro, in honor of the head of States and Government, at the end of the first day of the G77 South Summit, 12 April 2000 in Havana. Photo: ANP/EPA Adalberto Roque
File picture: Pres. Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia, and Cuban counterpart Fidel Castro Photo: ANP
Photo taken in the 60’s of then Cuban Prime Minister Fidel Castro (R) during a meeting next to Argentine guerrilla leader Ernesto Che Guevara. Cuban revolutionary icon Fidel Castro died late on November 25, 2016 in Havana, his brother, President Raul Castro, announced on national television. Photo: AFP/ANP Cuba’s Council Of State Archive
This 1959 file photo shows Cuban Fidel Castro(L), then 33 years old, chatting with ailing 31-year-old Ernesto πChe™ Guevara, at his barracks in Havana, shortly after both led the revolution that overthrew the Batista regime. The relationship between Castro and the Argentine-born revolutionary, who suffered from asthma his whole life, was often compared to the one of a father and son by people of their entourage. Photo: ANP
Picture handed out by Prensa Latina on January 8, 1959 of Cuban rebel leader Fidel Castro (R) and revolution leader Camilo Cienfuegos (L) on the day they entered Havana after the victory over the forces of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista. Next January 1, 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the Cuban Revolution. Photo: ANP/AFP /Prensa Latina
An undated black and white handout photograph provided by official site Cubadebate on 05 August 2010 shows former Cuban President Fidel Castro (C) next to his brother Raul Castro (L), current President of Cuba, and guerrilla Rene Ramos Latour (R) in the Sierra Maestra, Cuba, 1958. Castro presented this week his autobiography book titled ‘The Strategic Victory’ or ‘Por todos los caminos de la Sierra: la victoria estrategica’. An advance of this book about his childhood and youth was published on the site of Cubadebate on 05 August 2010. Photo: ANP/EPA/Cubadebate
Flowers are seen placed next to a portrait of Fidel Castro posted in front of the Cuban embassy in Hanoi as Vietnamese officials and individuals arrive to pay tribute to the late Cuban leader, on November 28, 2016.
Communist heavyweights China and Vietnam were swift to lament the death of Fidel Castro, with Hanoi’s state media leading tributes to the loss of a “great friend and comrade”. Photo: ANP/AFP HOANG DINH NAM
File picture: Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (R) speaks to Cuban President Fidel Castro (L) 31 August 2001, at the opening of the U.N. World Conference Against Racism, in Durban. Arafat will deliver a speech at the international conference regarding Israel_s aggression against the Palestinian people. Photo: ANP/EPA
