Revolutionary Del Conde bids farewell to Castro

World Today

Antonio del Conde is a man very close to Cuba revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Nicknamed “The Friend”, he literally helped launch the Cuban Revolution. This week, he is in Cuba to bid Castro farewell.

Antonio del Conde is a man very close to Cuba revolutionary leader Fidel Castro. Nicknamed “The Friend”, he literally helped launch the Cuban Revolution. This week, he is in Cuba to bid Castro farewell.

CCTV America’s Franc Contreras has this profile of a man who was Castro’s closest confidant. Follow Franc Contreras on Twitter @FrancMex

In Cuba, Antonio del Conde is considered a VIP. That’s partly because he was a close friend and confidant of Fidel Castro.

On this day, del Conde, known as El Cuate because of his friendship with Castro, has come to Cuba’s Museum of the Revolution.

When del Conde visits Cuba, he stops by to see the famous Granma yacht, which he said was designed for just seven or eight people used to transport fighters from Mexico to Cuba and help launch the Cuban Revolution in 1956.

Del Conde, a Mexican arms dealer, is the man who turned this historic sea vessel over to Fidel Castro.

The museum’s director said the Granma is one of the most important pieces of modern Cuban history.

In Cuba, del Conde is often greeted by government officials and diplomats. On this day, he gives a copy of his book about the Granma to Cuba’s former ambassador to Mexico.

Later this week, he is going to attend Castro’s funeral in Santiago. Nearly 91-years-old, del Conde said Castro is a hero for future generations.

Del Conde said Castro changed his life and changed the lives of so many people, not just in the Americas but around the world.