Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFormer Cuban President Raul Castro, the 94-year-old brother of Fidel Castro, could be indicted by the United States in connection with Cuba's shootdown of planes operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue in 1996.Castro, a key leader alongside Fidel in the 1959 guerrilla war, was instrumental in toppling the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and launching Cuba's communist revolution. Among his significant roles, he helped defeat the US-organised Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and oversaw Cuba's overseas military interventions, particularly in Africa.Castro's political ascent began in 2006 when Fidel fell ill, leading him to serve as acting president before formally becoming president in 2008. He served as president until 2018. After stepping down, he retained the honorific title of "army general" and continued to wield significant influence within Cuba's Communist Party, armed forces, and state institutions. Current President Miguel Diaz-Canel is widely seen as relying on Castro's guidance for major decisions. In December 2025, Castro proposed postponing the Communist Party congress scheduled to choose Diaz-Canel's successor, citing the country's deep economic crisis.Castro last appeared in public on 1 May for International Workers' Day. Wearing a military uniform, he marched alongside Diaz-Canel and other officials but appeared fatigued and had to sit down suddenly during the ceremony.In fullDOJ plans to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro, sources sayThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
How old is Raul Castro? The former Cuban leader facing US indictment
Stay up to date with notifications from The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleFormer Cuban President Raul Castro, the 94-year-old brother of Fidel Castro, could be indicted by the United States in connection with Cuba's shootdown of planes operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue in 1996.Castro, a key leader alongside Fidel in the 1959 guerrilla war, was instrumental in toppling the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and launching Cuba's communist revolution. Among his significant roles, he helped defeat the US-organised Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961 and oversaw Cuba's overseas military interventions, particularly in Africa.Castro's political ascent began in 2006 when Fidel fell ill, leading him to serve as acting president before formally becoming president in 2008. He served as president until 2018. After stepping down, he retained the honorific title of "army general" and continued to wield significant influence within Cuba's Communist Party, armed forces, and state institutions. Current President Miguel Diaz-Canel is widely seen as relying on Castro's guidance for major decisions. In December 2025, Castro proposed postponing the Communist Party congress scheduled to choose Diaz-Canel's successor, citing the country's deep economic crisis.Castro last appeared in public on 1 May for International Workers' Day. Wearing a military uniform, he marched alongside Diaz-Canel and other officials but appeared fatigued and had to sit down suddenly during the ceremony.In fullDOJ plans to indict former Cuban president Raúl Castro, sources sayThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in
