Cuba President, Miguel Diaz-Canel, has said a former ally of the late President Fidel Castro, Ramiro Valdés Menédez, died on Sunday aged 94.

Mr Diaz-Canel, who did not disclose the cause of his death, in a post on X on Sunday, said the news of his demise was hurtful, while lauding his exemplary dedication to the service of the country.

Mr Diaz-Canel wrote, “The physical departure of the Commander of the Revolution, Ramiro Valdés Menédez, hurts deeply like that of a father. That’s how I always loved and respected him. That’s how I will remember his support, his advice, his discreet collaboration and exemplary dedication to the service of the Homeland. 

“Every act in Commander Romiro’s life was marked by his absolute fidelity to the leadership of #Fidel and #Raúl, to his fellow fighters, and to the Moncada program, whose just essence he defended from the assault on the dictatorship’s stronghold in 1953 to the last breath of his exemplary life, this Father’s Day, overshadowed by the pain of his departure. Until victory always, Commander!”

Born on April 28, 1932, Mr Menédez, a top government official for decades after Mr Castro’s rebels came to power in 1959, held the honorary titles, “Hero of the Republic” and “Commander of the Revolution.”

Mr Menédez who also formed part of the powerful Political Bureau of the ruling Cuban Communist Party until 2019, was 21-year-old when he fought alongside Mr Castro at the assault on the Moncada barracks that launched the 1953 uprising against the government of ⁠Fulgencio Batista.

He also went on exile with Mr Castro in Mexico, and was one of 82 men who sailed the yacht Granma to Cuba in 1956 to restart the insurrection, and one of only 12 to survive.

The late Menédez also served as interior minister, vice minister of defence, minister of information and communications, and vice president.