**Title: South African Cleric Accuses US of 'Genocide Without Bombs' Against Cuba**
In a recent statement, South African Anglican priest and anti-apartheid activist Michael Lapsley has leveled serious accusations against the United States, claiming that its sanctions against Cuba amount to “a genocide without bombs.” Lapsley made these remarks following his visit to Havana, where he observed the dire humanitarian conditions faced by the Cuban population.
Lapsley described the situation in Cuba as increasingly severe, citing significant shortages of essential resources and a deteriorating quality of life. He noted that many streets were nearly devoid of vehicles due to acute fuel shortages, which have been exacerbated by longstanding U.S. sanctions. According to Lapsley, these sanctions have led to prolonged electricity outages, disrupting water supply, industrial production, and the manufacturing of medicines.
“The United States is actively strangling Cuba. This is a collective punishment of a whole country since the triumph of the revolution. However, things have become immeasurably worse in the last six months,” Lapsley stated during an interview with IOL.
The U.S. has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since 1962, which has been a point of contention in international relations. In January, former President Donald Trump declared a national emergency concerning Cuba, which included measures to restrict fuel supplies. This involved blocking oil tankers headed for the island and threatening tariffs against nations that continued to supply Cuba with fuel.
Cuban Energy and Mines Minister Vicente de la O Levy reported in May that the country had exhausted its stock of diesel and fuel oil, leaving it reliant on domestic gas sources. The resulting fuel scarcity has led to widespread blackouts across the island, with reports of power outages since March.
Lapsley attended a colloquium in Havana commemorating the centenary of Fidel Castro's birth, who led the Cuban Revolution in 1959 and governed the country until his death in 2016. The event attracted delegates from 63 countries, including representatives from South Africa’s National Education, Health and Allied Workers’ Union (Nehawu), the South African Communist Party (SACP), and former minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
During his address at the colloquium, Lapsley called for an end to the U.S. blockade, emphasizing the need for international solidarity with the Cuban people. He highlighted the challenges faced by Cuba in accessing basic food supplies, stating that some families have reduced their meals from three a day to one due to shortages.
Joel Ortega Dopico, president of the Cuban Council of Churches and the Cuban Bible Society, echoed Lapsley’s concerns, indicating that the U.S. restrictions hinder not only Cuba's self-sufficiency but also the ability of other nations to provide assistance. “They don’t allow diesel or oil to get into the country. It’s very difficult. Support from other countries, even from countries that want to support Cuba, is very hard,” Dopico remarked.
Lapsley acknowledged the resilience and innovation displayed by the Cuban people but insisted that they now require international support to endure the ongoing crisis. “From the beginning, Cuba has fought for other countries, such as South Africa, Angola, and Namibia. Now, the world needs to come to their support. Governments, solidarity movements, and faith organizations need to come together so Cuba can survive. But they also need to come together to oppose what the United States is doing,” he urged.
Lapsley, who is an honorary life president of the Friends of Cuba Society—a group he helped establish prior to South Africa’s first democratic election in 1994—also took medical supplies to Cuba during his visit, further emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid.
As the situation in Cuba continues to evolve, the international community remains divided over the effectiveness and morality of the U.S. embargo, with advocates like Lapsley calling for a reassessment of policies that they argue disproportionately affect the most vulnerable populations.