Cubas Last Living Revolutionary Figure Ramiro Valdes Dies at 94

Ramiro Valdes, a prominent figure in Cuba’s Communist revolution and architect of the country’s intelligence apparatus, has passed away at the age of 94, according to Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

In a post on X, Diaz-Canel described Valdes as a “father figure” and praised his dedication to the service of the homeland. Valdes was one of the last surviving leaders of the revolution, alongside Raul Castro, who is 95 years old.

Valdes had been a close ally of Fidel Castro, who died in 2016 at the age of 90. Diaz-Canel stated that every act in Valdes’ life was marked by his loyalty to the leadership of Fidel and Raul Castro, as well as his fellow fighters and the Moncada Program.

Valdes played a significant role in Cuba’s revolution, participating in the failed 1953 attack on the Moncada Barracks alongside Fidel Castro. He later became a military leader, fighting alongside Ernesto “Che” Guevara before Batista’s overthrow in 1958.

As a top member of the Cuban Communist Party, Valdes held various positions, including twice serving as minister of the interior and once as vice president. During his time in government, he helped establish the G2 state security intelligence service, which monitored domestic dissent and perceived foes outside the country.

The announcement of Valdes’ death comes after Cuba’s Communist Party approved a series of free-market measures, marking the largest overhaul of the country’s economic strategy since the revolution. The package aims to decentralize Cuba’s state-run economy, create space for private businesses, and allow for greater hiring of personnel.

Cuban President Diaz-Canel defended the plan, citing internal obstacles and external pressures as reasons for the island nation’s economic struggles.

Source: Al Jazeera