FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF ZAMBIA ON THE U.S. ARREST WARRANT ISSUED AGAINST COMRADE RAÚL CASTRO
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
The Socialist Party [Zambia] expresses its profound concern and unequivocal rejection regarding the recent state and federal arrest warrants issued by United States authorities against the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution and former President, Comrade Raúl Castro. We view this development as an act of judicial imperialism that directly undermines established principles of international law, state sovereignty, and diplomatic immunity.
Under customary international law, the domestic courts of a single nation cannot unilaterally override the sovereign immunity of foreign heads of state or actions taken in an official capacity. Legal disputes of an international nature, particularly those involving decades-old military and airspace conflicts, must be resolved through multilateral dialogue rather than the extraterritorial overreach of municipal criminal law.
Alongside these legal measures, we reiterate our militant call for the immediate, unconditional dismantling of the economic blockade against Cuba—an illegal, criminal policy of economic warfare that continues to cause immense, unjust suffering to the heroic Cuban population.
For decades, Zambia and Cuba have shared a deep, revolutionary relationship forged during our liberation struggles and maintained through robust bilateral cooperation. The Zambian people remain profoundly grateful for Cuba’s internationalist contributions to our nation, particularly in the fields of healthcare and education.
From dispatching medical brigades to rural Zambian communities to training our youth, Cuba has consistently demonstrated a revolutionary commitment to human development and global solidarity. It is this spirit of mutual respect and unbreakable partnership that guides our stance today.
The introduction of these warrants risks setting a precarious precedent in international relations, where the principle of reciprocity is vital. We observe a concerning pattern of the extraterritorial weaponization of domestic law, as seen in the politically motivated indictments targeting anti-imperialist leaders like Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Comrade Cilia Flores.
True justice and global stability rely on a consistent, non-selective application of international law. The international community can not ignore historical actions that contradict these principles, such as the tragic shootdown of Iran Air Flight 655 or past military operations involving the destruction of innocent civilian fishing vessels, where U.S. personnel were systematically insulated from external accountability.
Furthermore, the Global South can not forget the historical legacy of imperialist interventions that have violently disrupted the sovereignty of our nations.
The documented role of Western intelligence agencies in the toppling and assassination of transformational pan-African and global socialist leaders—including Kwame Nkrumah, Patrice Lumumba, Muammar Gaddafi, and Salvador Allende—stands as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences when state sovereignty is violated under the guise of democracy.
The Socialist Party [Zambia] urges a return to genuine diplomatic engagement and calls for the immediate cessation of unilateral legal actions that only serve to heighten international tensions.
We reaffirm our unwavering solidarity with the government, the Communist Party, and the resilient people of Cuba during this time, and we advocate for a global order anchored in peace, mutual respect, and the sovereign equality of all nations.
Fred M’membe
President of the Socialist Party [Zambia]