August 6, 2026
opening of the ALBA meeting, Havana
More than 150 delegates from 25 countries arrive in Havana for the 4th Continental Assembly of ALBA Movments, marking the 100th anniversary of Fidel Castro’s birth. More than 150 delegates from 25 countries have been gathering since Thursday in Havana for the 4th Continental Assembly of ALBA Movimientos, under the slogan “For Socialism, One Hundred Years Walking with Fidel.”
The meeting, which will run through August 9, coincides with the centennial of the birth of Cuban Commander Fidel Castro.
A network founded alongside Chavez, with roots in Marti and Bolivar
ALBA Movimientos was founded in 2007, following a meeting with Commander Hugo Chávez during the Fifth Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America. Today, it brings together some 400 peasant, indigenous, urban, student, and feminist organizations from across the continent.
The network is guided by the principles of sovereignty and regional integration bequeathed by José Martí and Simón Bolívar—themes that also run through the agenda of this meeting.
Three Pillars for a Continental Agenda
The Assembly’s work is organized along three fronts: analysis of the global crisis of capitalism, the so-called Monroe Doctrine 2.0, and international conflicts; updating the popular political program with socialism as the goal; and developing a Continental Work Plan to translate the debate into unified action.
Havana, Chosen as a Gesture of Solidarity
The organizers were explicit about the significance of the venue. Choosing the Cuban capital, they explained, constitutes an act of solidarity in the face of the intensification of the U.S. blockade against the island.
Laura Capote, from the Operational Secretariat of ALBA Movimientos, stated that defending the Cuban Revolution is equivalent to safeguarding the possibility of an emancipatory project for the entire continent, as well as paying tribute to the legacy of Fidel Castro.
Weeks of Preparation Leadin up to the Meeting
This week’s gathering did not come about overnight. On August 3 and 4, the network’s Political Coordination Committee had already held a session at the Martin Luther King Memorial Center in Havana, as part of a preliminary process that included national assemblies and virtual plenary sessions in various countries.
Che, Present in the Call to Action
When announcing the gathering, ALBA Movimientos shared a quote from Che Guevara on its social media: “Because this great humanity has said ‘Enough!’ and has set out on its journey. And its giant stride will not stop until it achieves true independence.”
The opening of the Fourth Continental Assembly took place this morning, as part of an agenda that also includes international activities marking the centennial of Fidel Castro.
Source: Alma Plus tv, translation Resumen Latinoamericano – English