Niël Terblanché
In a show of global solidarity, Namibian members of parliament (MPs) have joined over 600 parliamentarians from 73 countries in signing a letter denouncing U.S. President Joe Biden’s designation of Cuba as a “state sponsor of terrorism.”
Namibia’s MPs, alongside their international counterparts, are urging their respective governments to take action to remove Cuba from this controversial list before the end of Biden’s term in January 2025.
Addressed to the United Nations, the collective letter denounces the reapplication of the designation, characterizing it as cynical, cruel, and a violation of international law.
The United States first removed Cuba from the terrorism list in 2015, during the Obama administration, after a comprehensive review.
However, in the waning days of Donald Trump’s presidency, the designation was reapplied as part of a broader strategy of economic pressure on the island nation.
The parliamentarians argue that the label, which carries severe economic restrictions and impedes international cooperation, has further exacerbated the suffering of ordinary Cubans.
The MPs’ statement stresses that the designation violates human dignity and undermines the principles of the United Nations Charter.
By labelling Cuba as a sponsor of terrorism, the U.S. restricts Cuba’s ability to access humanitarian aid and hampers its economic recovery.
President Biden had campaigned on a promise to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba, following in the footsteps of his Democratic predecessor, Barack Obama.
However, even after the Colombian government dropped its extradition charges against the National Liberation Army (ELN), which originally served as justification for the Trump-era designation, the Biden administration has yet to remove Cuba from the terrorism list despite diplomatic overtures.
Instead, Biden has maintained the status quo, prompting an international outcry from global leaders and lawmakers.
Namibian lawmakers, along with their global peers, highlighted Cuba’s longstanding role as a broker in peace negotiations, particularly between the Colombian government, the ELN, and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).
They argued that far from sponsoring terrorism, Cuba has worked tirelessly to support peace and stability in the region.
The international letter also recalls that 2024 marks a decade since Cuba convened the member states of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) to declare the region a “Zone of Peace,” stressing its commitment to diplomatic solutions and international cooperation.
Namibian statesmen, including former presidents Sam Nujoma and Hifikepunye Pohamba, have long been advocates for stronger relations with Cuba, condemning the sanctions imposed on the island.
Both have supported similar efforts calling for the end of U.S. restrictions and have highlighted the historical ties between Namibia and Cuba, forged during the liberation struggle.
In their letter, the parliamentarians further argued that the U.S. designation of Cuba contravenes the principle of sovereign equality of states and the prohibition against interference in the domestic affairs of nations, as outlined in international law.
The extraterritorial sanctions imposed on Cuba, they contend, mark a clear violation of these principles.
Despite the U.S. State Department’s removal of Cuba from its list of nations “not fully cooperating” on counterterrorism in May 2024, the country remains subject to the consequences of its inclusion on the terrorism list.
The parliamentarians’ letter is a call for urgent action, urging governments worldwide to use diplomatic channels to correct what they see as a grave injustice.
Namibian MPs and their international colleagues expressed hope that Biden will fulfil his campaign promise and remove Cuba from the state sponsors of terrorism list, marking a new chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations.
