In an unprecedented move, Raúl Castro was not present at the main July 26 ceremony in Pinar del Río this past Sunday, marking the first time in over thirty years that the 95-year-old former leader has missed this event, according to the Associated Press.
The Cuban regime, however, offered no explanation for his absence. Instead, current leader Miguel Díaz-Canel read a handwritten note from Castro to the gathered crowd.
The brief message from Castro read, "Dear residents of Pinar del Río, receive my affection and recognition this July 26 for earning, through your dedication to the revolutionary cause and creative work, the honor of being the central venue for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada and Carlos Manuel de Céspedes barracks, National Rebellion Day. A strong embrace to all."
The Cuban public quickly took to social media to mock the handwritten message, with comments such as, "And here's 48 hours without electricity as a gift. Thank you, revolutionary people."
Unprecedented Absence Raises Questions
AP notes that there are no records of Castro missing this ceremony during the past decades, making his absence a notable event. Additionally, his grandson Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known for unofficially liaising with Washington, was also not present.
Castro's last confirmed public appearances were on June 6 at the Karl Marx Theater during a Ministry of the Interior celebration, and on May 1 at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, where he appeared visibly frail and had difficulty walking.
In April 2026, Díaz-Canel acknowledged that Castro was "retired due to health reasons" and "frail due to his advanced age." In contrast, Castro did attend the July 26, 2025 ceremony in Ciego de Ávila, where he joined Ramiro Valdés and José Ramón Machado Ventura in the front row.
Legal Troubles and Political Tensions
Adding to the intrigue around his absence, in May 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice formally charged Castro with seven federal counts, including conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens and four counts of homicide, related to the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes, which resulted in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans. Cuba has denied these charges.
Anniversary Ceremony Amid Crisis
The 73rd anniversary of the Moncada assault was marked amidst ongoing crisis in Cuba, celebrated under the slogan "My Moncada is the homeland." Díaz-Canel delivered a fiery speech equating the U.S. government with Nazis and accusing the Trump administration of conducting "coldly calculated genocide."
"Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran were targeted before. Today it's Cuba. Tomorrow it could be any other nation," he declared.
He also dismissed a recent U.S. State Department report alleging that Cuba has been running a network of espionage and leftist influence against the United States and Latin America for decades.
Raúl Castro's Absence and Its Implications
Why was Raúl Castro absent from the July 26 ceremony?
The Cuban government did not provide an official reason for Raúl Castro's absence from the ceremony. However, his health issues and advanced age have been acknowledged by Miguel Díaz-Canel.
What legal actions has the U.S. taken against Raúl Castro?
In May 2026, the U.S. Department of Justice charged Raúl Castro with seven federal offenses, including conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens and four counts of homicide, related to the 1996 downing of Brothers to the Rescue planes.