Relationship dossier
Cuba
South Africa
Relationship assessment
A sustained partnership built on anti-apartheid solidarity and post-1994 cooperation
Cuba toward South Africa
+50Cuba supported the African National Congress and the anti-apartheid struggle, including through military assistance and training. Since diplomatic relations were established in 1994, Cuba has cooperated with South Africa in areas including health and education.
South Africa toward Cuba
+55South Africa has maintained political engagement and cooperation with Cuba since establishing diplomatic relations in 1994, including in health and education. Its government has also opposed the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
Overall relationship
+55The relationship has durable foundations in Cuba’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle and South Africa’s post-apartheid political solidarity with Cuba. Government cooperation in health and education adds practical substance to longstanding political ties.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cuba and South Africa have a sustained relationship shaped by Cuba’s support for the anti-apartheid struggle and post-apartheid cooperation. Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1994, the governments have pursued cooperation in areas including health, education and political engagement. South Africa has also repeatedly opposed the U.S. embargo on Cuba. The relationship is substantially cooperative, though the scale and implementation of particular programs are not fully clear.
Key developments
Nelson Mandela visited Cuba, reflecting the ANC’s longstanding ties with Cuba and the importance of Cuban support for the anti-apartheid struggle.
Cuba and South Africa established diplomatic relations after the end of apartheid.
The two governments developed bilateral cooperation in areas including health and education.
Major uncertainties
- The current scope and implementation of bilateral health and education programs are unclear.
- The scale of ongoing cooperation under bilateral agreements is uncertain.