Nigeria: Nigeria, Other Countries Demand End to U.S. Blockade of Cuba

What the report says

Nigeria joined a wide group of UN member states in supporting a resolution calling for an end to the long-running US economic, trade and financial embargo on Cuba, according to Premium Times, as republished by AllAfrica. The vote took place on Wednesday and passed with 130 countries in favour and 17 against, with 25 abstentions. Among the opponents were the United States and Israel.

The article said most African countries backed the measure, while Morocco was the only African state to vote with the bloc opposing it. The resolution is not legally binding, but it is presented as a regular expression of international opinion on the embargo, which Cuba and its allies describe as harmful to the island’s economy and humanitarian situation.

The report also noted that the annual vote has been held since 1992 and that support for the proposal was lower this year than in the previous round, when more than 160 countries backed it. It added that earlier US sanctions introduced under the Donald Trump administration further restricted oil shipments to Cuba and increased pressure on the country.

Cuban officials welcomed the result, while the US ambassador to the UN said he was encouraged by the position of countries that voted against the resolution or abstained. The development highlights continuing diplomatic divisions over Cuba policy and Nigeria’s alignment with the majority of UN members on the issue.