New Pics Emerge Of Cuban Ex-Leader Fidel Castro

We use cookies to give you the best experience. If you do nothing we'll assume that it's ok.

The first pictures of Fidel Castro for more than five months have been published in Cuba.

The country's main state media outlets published pictures showing the 88-year-old former leader having what appeared to be a lively conversation with university student Randy Perdomo Garcia.

Mr Castro is show sitting while reportedly discussing current events with the head of the main Cuban student union on 23 January.

The photos are the first images of the revolutionary leader since a set of photos came out in August showing him talking with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

1/17

Gallery: A History Of US-Cuba Relations In Pictures

1 January 1959: Fidel Castro's rebels - under the command of Che Guevara (R) - sweep into Havana. Dictator Fulgencio Batista, who had strong relations with the American mafia and large US corporations, flees Cuba. The US soon recognises the new government

June-October 1960: Castro announces the nationalisation of nearly all US businesses - and American-owned oil refineries, after they refuse to process Soviet oil

]]>

October 1960: Washington, under President Dwight Eisenhower, bans exports to Cuba, other than food and medicine. The US embargo begins

]]>

3 January 1961: The US ends relations with Cuba and closes its embassy in Havana

]]>

16 April 1961: Fidel Castro, pictured here with Che Guevara (R), declares Cuba a socialist state

]]>

Mr Perdomo wrote a long article to accompany the pictures, saying he was in the former leader's house for more than three hours after an event celebrating the 70th anniversary of Castro starting his studies at the University of Havana.

He said Mr Castro was keeping abreast of the news and performing daily exercises.

The pair reportedly discussed topics including international politics, astronomy, agriculture and Namibia's donation of animals to Cuba's National Zoo.

The two men also discussed the release of three Cuban intelligence agents as part of the 17 December declaration by Cuba and the US to move to re-establish full diplomatic relations.

The student leader wrote: "I'm about to go but he continues a conversation about new ways of fighting some diseases, including diabetes, with the production of natural foods; about Cuba's relations with Africa, from its contribution to those countries' independence to the end of apartheid and the current contribution of Cuban doctors to the fight against Ebola."

The former president - who seized power in the 1959 Cuban revolution - did not issue a public statement for nearly a month after the announcement that Cuba and the US were aiming to re-establish full diplomatic relations.

1/11

Gallery: Cuban Exiles Divided Over Deal

Anti-Castro activists protest in Little Havana in Miami after the US announced a thaw in relations with Cuba

Miami is home to America's largest population of Cuban exiles

]]>

His unusually lengthy silence sparked intense speculation about his health.

Mr Castro's public appearances and statements have become increasingly infrequent since he stepped down from duties as president after a serious illness in 2006 and handed over leadership to his younger brother Raul.

Recommended by Outbrain Recommended by Outbrain

Plumpang Raya