Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has hailed Cuba's contribution to Namibia's liberation struggle, describing the late Cuban leader Fidel Castro as a celebrated hero in Namibia.

Dr. Ngurare made the remarks in Havana, Cuba, at a colloquium commemorating the centenary of the birth of Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro Ruz.

Castro, who died in 2016, would have turned 100 today.

The premier described Castro as a towering figure whose leadership transformed Cuba and whose legacy of international solidarity extended to Africa.

He highlighted Cuba's role in Namibia's liberation struggle, particularly the deployment of Cuban forces in Southern Africa under Operation Carlota and their involvement in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale.

“The humanity of the international community must be summoned through the United Nations to ensure that the children in Cuba, the women, the men, the elders, and the young people in Cuba are guaranteed the freedom to live in peace and to govern themselves, just like all other nations do. That is the sacred call we must collectively make as human beings.”

Dr. Ngurare is in Cuba for the Fidel Castro centenary commemorations and has also held bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening cooperation between Namibia and Cuba.