Angolan President João Lourenço on Monday highlighted the participation of Cuba's Revolutionary Armed Forces in the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, a decisive engagement whose victory was secured on March 23, 1988.

In a statement marking the 38th anniversary of that triumph — which signaled the end of the apartheid regime and the consolidation of peace in southern Africa — the head of state also praised the firm leadership of Cuban Commander in Chief Fidel Castro Ruz (1926–2016).

"On this day, we pay deep tribute to the heroes and heroines who, with supreme sacrifice, contributed to the conquest of freedom, dignity and self-determination of the peoples of southern Africa," Lourenço wrote in a note published on the Presidency's official social media accounts.

The Angolan president congratulated the country's Armed Forces on behalf of the Angolan people and urged the nation to keep alive, with "a deep sense of patriotism and reverence," the legacy of March 23, enshrined as Southern Africa Liberation Day.

Lourenço noted that this anniversary symbolizes the courage, bravery, resilience and determination of the Angolan people and of the peoples of the African continent in their struggle against colonial oppression, apartheid and all forms of domination.

He recalled the five grueling months of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, stressing that the legacy of its "heroic combatants" remains a living source of inspiration for present and future generations.

The president reaffirmed his country's commitment to preserving peace, unity and sovereignty across the southern region of the continent, and called the date an opportunity for reflection on present-day challenges.

In that context, he emphasized the need to strengthen democratic institutions, promote social justice and consolidate political stability, toward "the construction of a future based on freedom, equality and collective progress."