Cuba announced on January 15, 2025, that it will release 553 prisoners as a direct consequence of the United States removing the island from its list of state sponsors of terrorism. This decision arrives as part of President Joe Biden's final actions before the impending inauguration of Donald Trump, who is anticipated to rescind these changes.

The shift was celebrated by the families of those jailed primarily for participating in peaceful protests against the Cuban government, which erupted in 2021 amidst crises of power outages, food shortages, and price hikes. A first batch of approximately 20 prisoners was set free immediately after the announcement, with their families expressing joy over the surprise news. Liset Fonseca, mother of Roberto Perez, a 41-year-old jailed protester, expressed, "All the mothers of prisoners want our children to be free and out of that suffering."

The Biden administration's decision to delist Cuba is seen as a potential avenue for increased US investment in the country, which has been under a trade embargo for over 60 years. However, the future of this improvement remains uncertain, particularly with Trump’s incoming Secretary of State nominee, Marco Rubio, who has indicated that he might reverse Biden’s actions. Rubio, whose opposition to the Cuban regime is well-known, stated, "There is zero doubt in my mind that they meet all the qualifications for being a state sponsor of terrorism,” claiming that Cuba is collapsing under its current leadership.

Cuban officials, including Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, acknowledge the precariousness of the situation, with the repeated designation and removal of Cuba from the terror list being described as a "vulgar instrument of political coercion." Rodriguez welcomed the decision while lamenting the ongoing sanctions which remain in effect.

Notably, the plan for releasing prisoners was facilitated by the Vatican, signifying a diplomatic effort to achieve justice for those unjustly incarcerated, particularly political prisoners. The Vatican’s Cardinal Pietro Parolin noted that Cuba's response was “significant” as it answered Pope Francis's call for clemency. Social media lit up with accounts of released detainees, many of whom had been subject to harsh sentences for exercising their rights to protest.

Despite the optimism, many families remain anxious, awaiting news of their loved ones still behind bars. The Cuban government has been criticized for its treatment of protesters, with various human rights organizations citing a higher number of those imprisoned than official estimates suggest. As this transitional moment unfolds, Cuba continues to grapple with the implications of US sanctions, which it blames for the nation’s economic struggles, prompting significant emigration to the United States in recent years.

For further information on this development, refer to the original articles from Times of India and Le Monde.