Speaking during the United Nations General Assembly debate on the resolution regarding the “necessity of ending the economic, commercial, and financial blockade imposed by the United States against Cuba,” the South African representative expressed his country’s concern over the consequences of this policy.

He highlighted that unilateral economic sanctions constitute the primary obstacle preventing Cuba from meeting its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and realizing its social aspirations.

In his view, the fact that the United Nations is debating this issue once again—barely four months after the discussion held in July—demonstrates that, far from being resolved, the situation has worsened.

He noted that, in recent months, the Caribbean nation has received only one oil tanker—a mere fraction of its actual needs—which has triggered a domino effect throughout the Cuban economy.

He stated that this situation should be a cause for concern for everyone, particularly from a humanitarian perspective, and emphasized that the message to the world must be clear: put an end to the suffering of the Cuban people.

The official reiterated the urgent need to remove Havana from the list of alleged state sponsors of terrorism and to cease the application of the Helms-Burton Act—measures that negatively impact the island’s economic relations with other sovereign nations.

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