United Nations - Cuba has expressed at the United Nations today its willingness to strengthen the relationships of brotherhood and cooperation with the peoples of Africa, on occasion of the day dedicated to that continent.

The Cuban permanent mission to the UN stressed at a press release the celebration on occasion of the 53rd anniversary of the establishment of the Organization of African Union, replaced in 2002 by the African Union (AU), coinciding with the 130th anniversary of the abolition of slavery on the island.

'The Cuban people will feel very proud of its African roots, which are present in our character and our cultural expressions,' the text said.

The diplomatic representation also recalled the sweat and blood that hundreds of thousands of people from the Caribbean nation shed for the emancipation of Africa, and the solidarity of many professionals in several fields who have worked in countries of that continent for decades.

One of the recent examples was the sending of 256 health collaborators to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, to help fight the Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,000 people from late 2013 to March, 2016.

On the Africa Day, Cuba also expressed appreciation for the permanent support of AU, made up of 54 nations, to the fight against the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States to the island for more than 50 years.