Addis Ababa - On January 28, Salvador Valdés Mesa, a Council of State vice president, participated in a solidarity act in honor of the Caribbean island, alongside 300 Ethiopians who have studied in Cuba over recent decades, reported PL.

The moving encounter, which took place in the capital's Martyrs' Memorial Park, was organized by Cuban solidarity associations in the country, in honor of the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, and the 163 compatriots who lost their lives defending Ethiopia against Somali aggression.

Mayor of Addis Ababa, Deriba Kuma, welcomed the Cuban delegation, led by Valdés Mesa, in the country to attend the 28th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the African Union (AU); and highlighted the bravery of the internationalist soldiers.

Valdés Mesa noted that also being celebrated the same day was the 164th anniversary of the birth of Cuba's National Hero, José Martí. "We pay well-deserved tribute to the Cuban combatants, who 40 years ago, led the most honorable expression of Cuban internationalism in Ethiopian lands."

Over 10,000 Cubans fought alongside brave Ethiopian soldiers, under the so-called Operation Baraguá, which took its name from the greatest revolt carried out during Cuba's independence struggles against Spain, according to PL.

The objective was to free the Ogadén territory occupied by Somalia, which was finally achieved in March 1978, and as such Ethiopia regained its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In 2007, Ethiopian authorities, with the support of Cuban solidarity associations in the country, erected a memorial to the 163 martyrs of the Caribbean nation at the site where the solidarity act was held.