The Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces (MINFAR) announced on social media the passing of Reserve Major General Claro Orlando Almaguel Vidal at the age of 81.
Born in the city of Guantánamo, Almaguel Vidal had a long and distinguished career within the Cuban military structures.
The official statement indicates that he joined the Revolutionary Armed Forces through the National Revolutionary Militias and later completed his military service. He then attended the Cadet School in Managua, where he graduated at the top of his class and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant.
His professional journey saw him holding various significant positions within the military logistics and transportation system. He served as deputy chief and then chief of the Technical Services of Tanks and Transportation Section; head of the Organization and Planning Section; deputy and finally chief of the Military Transportation Directorate.
Starting in 1988, he was appointed as the Chief of General Staff and First Deputy to the Chief of the FAR Rear.
In 1991, he became the Chief of Logistics for the Western Army and later headed the FAR Logistics Headquarters, eventually serving as president of the National Institute of State Reserves.
MINFAR highlights that he maintained continuous educational development within the military framework. Almaguel Vidal also undertook an international mission in the People's Republic of Angola. Additionally, he was a member of the Communist Party of Cuba and served as a deputy in the National Assembly of People's Power across multiple terms.
His body was cremated, and his ashes will be interred on Wednesday, January 21, at the Pantheon of the Revolutionary Armed Forces in the Colón Necropolis, where military honors will be rendered.
Another High-Ranking Military Death Within a Week
Almaguel Vidal's death follows closely on the heels of the passing of reserve Brigadier General José Luis Mesa Delgado, aged 88, who died on January 14.
Mesa Delgado was officially recognized as a combatant of the July 26 Movement, the Rebel Army, and the fight against counter-revolutionaries, with nearly 60 years of service in both the FAR and the MININT.
His name is linked to one of the most controversial episodes in Cuba's military history: the 1989 execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa Sánchez. On July 13, 1989, Ochoa was executed alongside Antonio de la Guardia, Jorge Martínez Valdés, and Amado Padrón Trujillo near the Baracoa airbase. The execution squad was led by then-Colonel Mesa Delgado, who directed the operation and delivered the final shots.
Following these events, Mesa Delgado was promoted. Over time, he has been listed among those accused of international offenses, including physical abuse, suppression of civil rights, and complicity in homicide.
This reference to Mesa Delgado emerges now as part of a recent sequence of deaths within the senior military leadership in Cuba, once again spotlighting the history of key figures within the state's defense and security apparatus.
Insight into Cuban Military Leadership Changes
Who was Claro Orlando Almaguel Vidal?
Claro Orlando Almaguel Vidal was a Cuban Major General in the Reserve who had a notable career in the military, serving in various logistical and leadership roles. He was also a member of the Communist Party and served as a deputy in the National Assembly.
What was the significance of General José Luis Mesa Delgado?
General José Luis Mesa Delgado was known for his involvement in the 1989 execution of General Arnaldo Ochoa Sánchez. He served for nearly six decades in Cuba's military and internal affairs, and his name is associated with controversial military events.