Politics & Governance
Raul Castro reappears after months out of public view
Raul Castro appeared in public on August 13 for the first time in months, attending an event in Havana marking the centenary celebration of his brother Fidel Castro's birth.
AFP reporters saw the 95-year-old former Cuban president, who heads the country's armed forces, at the Karl Marx theatre in an olive-green military uniform. He received a standing ovation as he entered.
Castro is the last surviving leader of Cuba's 1959 revolution and is seen as still wielding power, despite stepping down as president in 2018.
He last appeared in public at a May 1 event in front of the US embassy in Havana, where he appeared frail, and was shown on state television during another event in early June.
In May, a court in the US state of Florida indicted him on four counts of murder. The charges relate to the downing of US civilian planes by Cuban forces on February 24, 1996.
Cuba is facing rolling blackouts and shortages of basic goods amid an economic crisis and years of poor maintenance.
Update
Raul Castro attended the event in Havana's Karl Marx theatre wearing an olive-green military uniform.
AFP reporters saw him receive a standing ovation as he entered.
He last appeared in public at a May 1 event near the US embassy in Havana and was shown on state television during another event in early June.
The Florida indictment charges relate to the downing of US civilian planes by Cuban forces on February 24, 1996.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 15:31:54 UTC.
Update
Raul Castro attended an event marking the centenary celebration of Fidel Castro's birth.
AFP reporters saw Castro at the event in military uniform.
The item identifies Castro as 95 years old, head of the Cuban armed forces and a former president.
Source note: AFP news report published on 13 August 2026 at 15:12:48 UTC.
Source
AFP news report published on .