Luanda: Cuban army General Leopoldo Cintra Frias “Polo” expressed gratitude on Thursday in Luanda for being honored with an independence medal by Angolan President Joo Louren§o for the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence, which will be marked on November 11. Speaking to ANGOP, after receiving the Independence medal from the Angolan Head of State, the Cuban politician and soldier said the moment is one of joy and at the same time of sadness, because the distinction honors the memory of his comrades who fell during the civil war in Angola.
According to Angola Press News Agency, General Cintra Fras recalled the challenging early days of his stay in Angola, marked by a civil war that eventually led to the signing of the New York Peace Accords on December 22, 1988, at the United Nations headquarters. These accords, signed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs from Angola, Cuba, and South Africa, not only granted Namibia independence but also ended the direct involvement of foreign troops in the Angolan civil war.
General Cintra Fras played a significant role in the fight against the Apartheid regime in South Africa. He led a large Cuban tank unit in Angola and Ethiopia in 1975 and 1978, respectively. During his three deployments to Angola as part of Operation Carlota, he commanded the Southern Front and directed Cuban forces during the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale and subsequent operations.
These joint military operations by Cuban, Angolan, and SWAPO troops paved the way for Cuba’s involvement in multilateral peace talks, with the United States acting as mediator. General Cintra Fras was a member of the Cuban delegation during these negotiations, a role that earned praise from Cuban President Fidel Castro.
He is the second Cuban to receive this recognition, following Cuban Brigadier General Rafael Morac©n Limonta, who was posthumously awarded the Peace and Development Medal for his contributions to Angola’s independence. General Morac©n, a hero of the Republic of Cuba, was granted Angolan nationality in 2014 for his military training contributions against Portuguese colonialism.
Oscar Le³n Gonz¡lez, the Cuban ambassador to Angola, praised the excellent relations between the two countries. Since Angola’s independence in 1975, Cuba has offered support in various sectors, and both nations have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, seeking a balance across different levels of cooperation.
The Angolan president expects to award medals decorations to 697 people, 252 in the Independence and 445 for the Peace and Development of the country.