---
title: "South Africa and Cuba in 60 seconds"
summary: "Cuban troops in Angola, Cuban doctors and engineers in South Africa, and South Africa's call to end the US embargo of Cuba."
published: 2026-10-29
reviewed: 2026-10-29
canonical: "https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/learn/sa-and-cuba-in-60-seconds"
license: "CC BY 4.0"
---

# South Africa and Cuba in 60 seconds

> A war, doctors and engineers link South Africa and Cuba [1] [3]. South Africa's government wants the US embargo of Cuba to end [7]. The US government disagrees [6].

In 1987 and 1988, Cuban troops fought in Angola at Cuito Cuanavale. [1] Nelson Mandela called the battle a turning point for the liberation of Africa. [1]

Namibia became independent in March 1990. [2] Freedom Park, near Pretoria, names 2,070 Cuban soldiers who died in Angola. [1]

Since 1996, South Africa has sent medical students to train in Cuba. [3] In April 2020, 217 Cuban doctors came to help during Covid-19. [4] In April 2021, 24 Cuban engineers came to advise on water. [5]

The US has an [embargo](https://cuba.timothybrits.co.za/glossary#embargo) on Cuba. On 28 October 2026, 130 countries voted at the UN to call for it to end, 17 voted against and 25 abstained. [6]

South Africa's government wants the embargo to end. [7] The US government says it wants more freedom and human rights in Cuba. [8] The US ambassador told the UN: "There is no blockade." [6]

## Main counterarguments

- Seventeen countries voted against the UN resolution on 28 October 2026, and the US ambassador said there is no blockade [6]. For both sides in full, see The debate over the US embargo of Cuba.

## Sources

1. Battle of Cuito Cuanavale 1988. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/article/battle-cuito-cuanavale-1988 (Academic)
2. It's 30 years since Cuito Cuanavale. How the battle redefined southern Africa. The Conversation Africa, 29 May 2017. https://theconversation.com/its-30-years-since-cuito-cuanavale-how-the-battle-redefined-southern-africa-78134 (Academic)
3. Three decades in, is the Cuba-SA doctor training programme still worth the expense?. Daily Maverick (Spotlight), 31 July 2025. https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-07-31-three-decades-in-is-the-cuba-sa-doctor-training-programme-still-worth-the-expense (News)
4. Mkhize welcomes support from Cuban doctors. SAnews (South African Government News Agency), 28 April 2020. https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/mkhize-welcomes-support-cuban-doctors (South African government)
5. Water and Sanitation welcomes Cuban water experts seconded to South Africa, 22 Apr. South African Government (gov.za), 19 April 2021. https://www.gov.za/news/media-advisories/government-activities/water-and-sanitation-welcomes-cuban-water-experts (South African government)
6. Backing for UN call to end Cuba embargo falls to 20-year low. UN News, 28 October 2026. https://news.un.org/en/story/2026/10/1168694 (United Nations)
7. UNGA81 General Debate: South Africa's National Statement by Minister Ronald Lamola, Head of Delegation. Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), 24 September 2026. https://dirco.gov.za/unga81-general-debate-south-africas-national-statement-by-minister-ronald-lamola-head-of-delegation-on-restoring-trust-managing-transformation-a-united-nations-that-delivers-for/ (South African government)
8. National Security Presidential Memorandum/NSPM-5. The White House, 30 June 2025. https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/06/national-security-presidential-memorandum-nspm-5/ (US government)

## What you can do

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