LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
LIVE: Zambia votes in a 'pre-won' general election
A century after Fidel Castro was born, Cuba is once again looking back at the man who transformed the island and became one of the most influential and divisive political figures of the 20th century.
August 13, 2026, marks the 100th anniversary of Castro's birth. More than 1,500 activists and representatives from over 60 countries have travelled to Cuba for commemorative events, according to the Cuban government.
But the anniversary comes at a difficult moment.
Cuba is experiencing one of its most severe economic and energy crises in decades. Power cuts exceed 20 hours a day in many provinces, while shortages of food, fuel and medicine continue to affect everyday life. The electricity grid suffered three nationwide failures in July alone.
The government blames tightened US sanctions and an oil embargo introduced by President Donald Trump's administration in January for worsening the crisis. Havana has responded with 176 economic measures aimed at opening parts of its socialist economy to more private and foreign investment.
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It is against this backdrop that Castro's legacy is being revisited.
Born on August 13, 1926, Castro became politically active after training as a lawyer. In 1953, he joined more than 100 others in an unsuccessful attack on the Moncada Barracks in an attempt to overthrow Fulgencio Batista.
After imprisonment and exile in Mexico, Castro returned to Cuba and led a guerrilla campaign that culminated in Batista's overthrow in 1959.
Castro's government transformed the country through agrarian reform, nationalisation of private businesses and a major literacy campaign. Those policies also placed Cuba on a collision course with the United States.
His influence eventually stretched far beyond the island. Across Latin America and developing countries, Castro became a symbol of revolutionary and anti-colonial movements.
But his legacy remains deeply contested. Supporters point to advances in education and healthcare, as well as Cuba's resistance to US influence. Critics point to restrictions on political freedoms and the Communist Party's monopoly on power.
That divide remains visible today. Some older Cubans have expressed nostalgia for Castro as the country struggles through its current crisis, while younger generations are increasingly removed from the revolutionary era.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
