19 January 2024
Johannesburg, Braamfontein
The Young Communist League of South Africa (YCLSA) notes with great impetus and inspiration the declaration of the 7th African Continental meeting of Solidarity with CUBA. Held in South Africa, Mpumalanga province under the auspices of the revolutionary alliance which is comprised of the (SACP, ANC, COSATU and SANCO) as well as the CUBAN institute of friendship with the peoples and the Friends of CUBA Society. The conference was aptly themed: Africa’s Commitment to the Cuban Revolution. The conference represented an anti-thesis to the annual meeting of Global elites disguised as the World Economic Forum in Davos.
South Africa hosted the inaugural African Continental Solidarity meeting with CUBA in 1995 and the subsequent meetings were held in Ghana in 1997, Angola 2010, Ethiopia in 2012, Namibia in 2017 and Nigeria 2019. The Young Communist League of South Africa is inclined to support the progressive resolutions which were passed in the conference in particular a special resolution on the Palestinian question. These resolutions reaffirm our long held committed against the illegal blockade imposed on CUBA by the United States of America. The overarching message that was echoed in the highest decibels is the fact that our solidarity must be characterized by practical solidarity with the people of CUBA. The YCLSA firmly support the view to offer CUBA preferential treatment in trade even in context of the African Continental Free Trade as well as giving CUBA special status in the BRICS + countries. We welcome this approach and shall actively be involved in its advocacy and other forms of solidarity actions like we have in the past.
The US-blockade on CUBA has far- reaching extra-territorial impact, blocking other countries and their companies from building or enhancing trade and investment relations and engaging in financial transactions with CUBA.
We commit ourselves because we understand very well that the political freedom that we enjoy today as South Africa and other nations in Africa is because of the selfless contribution
of the selfless people of CUBA. The Revolutionary triumph in the battle of Cuito Cuanavale culminated in the liberation of Angola and Namibia and paved the way for the negotiations that ultimately brought an end to the dark days of the apartheid regime in South Africa. This marked a significant transition to democracy in Southern Africa after decades of liberation struggle. Hence, we express our utmost gratitude to the selfless CUBAN people who took the ultimate sacrifice and returned to CUBA only with mortal remains of their fallen heroes – and not a single African mineral or shred of wealth was requested.
Our Solidarity with the CUBAN government and people is anchored in our support for their right to choose their own path of transformation and development which is free from external interference or domination.
We pledge our solidarity with the people of Palestine in the face of the genocidal onslaught by the Apartheid Israeli regime. We call for an immediate ceasefire and support the Palestinian peoples just struggle for national self-determination and freedom. We condemn the genocide with contempt it deserves and overwhelmingly pledge our support for South Africa’s case to hold Israeli accountable at the international court of justice. We are also not astonished at the decision by Germany to support Israel in the ICJ proceedings. What can we expect from Germany, a country that is well known for committing the worst form of atrocities?
On China’s Taiwan Region elections and recent developments in eSwatini.
The YCLSA has observed closely the recently held in China’s Taiwan region with interest. We understand that the Taiwan elections are China’s internal affair unlike the imperialist and proponents of separatism. The principle of One China is an important one to adhere to for the stability, peace, and national reunification without foreign interference. The UN resolution 2758 records the People’s Republic of China as the only legitimate representative of China. This was further buttressed by the 1992 consensus that embodies one-China principle. We are in full solidarity with China’s authorities to maintain sovereignty in their country in reject foreign interference at all costs.
We have also noted with disgust the recent political developments in eSwatini, that over and above the refusal for people’s self-determination the regime has once again released new list of activists it will detain for struggling for democracy. This new list will force many more progressive activists from eSwatini into exile yet again. We also view with suspicion the actions of the Southern African Customs Union which forever intervenes whenever the region is in self-inflicted crisis. We call on our South African Government to facilitate processes for asylum for the eSwatini revolutionaries while it also pursues diplomatic interventions in this regard.
Issued by YCLSA
National Secretary– Mzwandile Thakhudi Email: mzwandilethakhudi@gmail.com
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