African stalingrad - The Cuban Revolution, internationalism, and the end of apartheid

Cuba's crucial role in securing the independence of Namibia and ending racist rule in South Africa manifested the island's internationalism. Outstanding among the examples of Cuba's internationalism had been its aid to various national liberation, anticolonial and anti-imperialist movements. The Cuban revolutionary government viewed the extension of such assistance as both a fulfilment of its internationalist responsibility and imperative for the survival of the revolution. Cuba's most significant internationalist mission was its contribution to the defense of Angola's independence against South African aggression. The battle of Cuito Cuanavale resulted in the immediate liberation of Namibia and speeded up the end of apartheid by 20 to 25 years. The Cuban government viewed its military assistance as not only aiding an independent country in its defense against a foreign invader but as the repayment of a historical debt owed to Africa as a result of slavery and the slave trade. The victory at Cuito Cuanavale became a symbol across the continent that apartheid and its army were no longer invincible and was regarded by many diplomats as a turning point. Cuito Cuanavale had been characterized by some as the African Stalingrad of apartheid because of its decisive impact on the course of regional developments. The Cuban internationalists made a contribution to African independence, freedom and justice unparalleled for its principled and selfless character.