Will Ross
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President Paul Kagame's government says this conflict is about protecting Rwanda from the threat of Hutu rebels based in eastern Congo. But Kinshasa sees that as a convenient excuse and accuses Kigali of trying to annex part of eastern Congo to exploit the minerals. What happens next will partly depend on whether Rwanda faces any threat of sanctions. Will Ross.
President Paul Kagame's government says this conflict is about protecting Rwanda from the threat of Hutu rebels based in eastern Congo. But Kinshasa sees that as a convenient excuse and accuses Kigali of trying to annex part of eastern Congo to exploit the minerals. What happens next will partly depend on whether Rwanda faces any threat of sanctions. Will Ross.
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José Daniel Ferrer is definitely one of the most visible faces of the dissidents and of general opposition in Cuba to the one-party state, to the Cuban government in general, and to the communist system. So I think that he being released is important, certainly to those who follow politics more closely. He might not be very, very well known by everybody on the streets, but
José Daniel Ferrer is definitely one of the most visible faces of the dissidents and of general opposition in Cuba to the one-party state, to the Cuban government in general, and to the communist system. So I think that he being released is important, certainly to those who follow politics more closely. He might not be very, very well known by everybody on the streets, but
But it does show that I think the Cuban government was willing to let out some of the kind of key figures as part of this deal. As you say, 553 prisoners slated for release. Only a fraction of those are out so far.
But it does show that I think the Cuban government was willing to let out some of the kind of key figures as part of this deal. As you say, 553 prisoners slated for release. Only a fraction of those are out so far.
And arts NGOs and groups are pushing hard or calling certainly for the release of a group called the San Isidro movement, which is made up of musicians and artists who are lined up against the government.
And arts NGOs and groups are pushing hard or calling certainly for the release of a group called the San Isidro movement, which is made up of musicians and artists who are lined up against the government.
Well, it is obviously the final days of the Biden administration. It was always quite curious in a sense that the Biden administration didn't do this a little earlier. I think the calculation with Cuba is always tied up to votes in Florida. So there may have been some of that going on.
Well, it is obviously the final days of the Biden administration. It was always quite curious in a sense that the Biden administration didn't do this a little earlier. I think the calculation with Cuba is always tied up to votes in Florida. So there may have been some of that going on.
A bit of context that Cuba was taken off the list of states sponsored by terrorism by President Obama, put back on during Trump's first term in office. And only now taken off by President Biden. Quite clearly, the feeling is that the incoming Trump administration is simply going to put them back on again.
A bit of context that Cuba was taken off the list of states sponsored by terrorism by President Obama, put back on during Trump's first term in office. And only now taken off by President Biden. Quite clearly, the feeling is that the incoming Trump administration is simply going to put them back on again.
And we've had indications to that by Marco Rubio during his Senate hearings as prospective Secretary of State.
And we've had indications to that by Marco Rubio during his Senate hearings as prospective Secretary of State.
Well, I think timing is everything. If they don't get out before the Trump administration does that, does the whole deal fall down? Is there an element in which the Vatican, which has played a very important role in brokering this agreement, is there's a certain agreement there with the Roman Catholic Church that no matter what happens, these prisoners will be released?
Well, I think timing is everything. If they don't get out before the Trump administration does that, does the whole deal fall down? Is there an element in which the Vatican, which has played a very important role in brokering this agreement, is there's a certain agreement there with the Roman Catholic Church that no matter what happens, these prisoners will be released?
I think if you were in prison in Cuba and you suspect you would be on the list of those who would be let out as a result of this agreement, you are hoping that things move very, very quickly in the coming days.
I think if you were in prison in Cuba and you suspect you would be on the list of those who would be let out as a result of this agreement, you are hoping that things move very, very quickly in the coming days.