CUBA AND MOZAMBIQUE: A LONG AND CONTINUING

UNCLAS MAPUTO 000164 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CU PGOV PREL ECON ETRD MZ SUBJECT: CUBA AND MOZAMBIQUE: A LONG AND CONTINUING RELATIONSHIP SENSITIVE ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: More than 3500 Mozambicans have studied in Cuba since 1977; many of them now occupy important positions in the Government of Mozambique (GRM) and in the ruling FRELIMO party, even as close advisors to current President Armando Guebuza. Relations between the two countries' governments cooled somewhat when Mozambique embraced a market economy in the early 1990's. There now appears to be an attempt by the GRM to at least maintain if not revive relations between the two countries which share a revolutionary past, if for nothing else than to continue to benefit from Cuban doctors still working in country. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) Cuban support of Mozambican education began in 1977 when former Mozambican President Zamora Machel visited Havana. During that visit, Fidel Castro offered to educate thousands of Mozambican youth at Cuba's expense. Many other Mozambicans received training either in Cuba or in Mozambique from Cuban instructors who taught courses on health, education, agriculture, defense and security. ¶3. (SBU) Nearly 3500 Mozambicans have been trained or educated in Cuba to date; many received their entire formal schooling in Cuba. Numerous Cuban-trained Mozambicans hold or have held positions in the GRM: Aiuba Cuereneia, current Minister of Planning and Development (one of the ministers closest to President Guebuza); Edgar Cossa, former Deputy Spokesperson of FRELIMO in the National Assembly; the late General Sebastiao Mabote, former army commander; and Castigo Langa, Minister of Industry and Trade in the Chissano government and currently Chairman of the Mozambique-Cuba Friendship Association. ¶4. (SBU) Cuban political figures are held in high regard among Mozambicans who studied in Cuba. Stories of how Cuban intelligence has repeatedly foiled USG attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro are common. Members of the Mozambique-Cuba Friendship Association often address each other in Spanish when they meet, listen to Cuban music and lead retrospective discussions on what they view as Cuba's generosity to many nations in need in Africa. ¶5. (SBU) Cuba continues to provide doctors to the Mozambican Ministry of Health, though the Mozambicans must provide housing and a stipend of about $1,000 per month per doctor. A Ministry of Health contact noted that the number of doctors has been declining in recent years as other countries seemingly were able to provide larger stipends for the Cuban doctors, something the GRM was not prepared to do. Cuba maintains a small Embassy in Maputo, though its Ambassador, Evangeline Seoane Dominguez, maintains a low profile and rarely appears at diplomatic events. ¶6. (SBU) COMMENT: Cuba's friendly relationship with FRELIMO and the GRM began during Mozambique's war for independence but cooled in the early 1990s, when Mozambique embraced a market economy. There now appear to be efforts by the GRM to at least maintain if not revive relations between the two countries. In May 2005, the Mozambican Minister of Foreign Affairs paid a visit to Cuba during which she praised the Cuban authorities for their efforts in helping Mozambique with an anti-cholera vaccine and expressed the hope that Cuban scientists would provide help to Mozambique in fighting malaria and tuberculosis. In 2006, on the occasion of the 80th birthday of Cuban leader Fidel Castro, the Mozambique-Cuba Friendship Association held a ceremony in Gaza province which was attended by the Cuban Ambassador to Mozambique, Cuban doctors working in Mozambique and Mozambicans who had studied in Cuba. At the ceremony the village of Nhpondzone was renamed "Fidel Castro Village." In 2007, the Mozambican Minister of Education expressed the hope that Cuba would assist in creating a school of medicine at a university in northern Mozambique. Minister Cuereneia traveled to Cuba in 2007 to discuss continuing ties between the two countries. Cuba and Mozambique's relationship is rooted in its shared revolutionary past. Continuing the medical assistance received from Cuba would seem to be the tangible reason for Mozambique's interest in maintaining this relationship. END COMMENT. Chapman