• Ramiro Valdes, a hero of the Cuban revolution, dies at 94.
• He was a close ally of Fidel and Raul Castro, involved in early revolutionary efforts.
• Valdes held various significant government roles until 2019, remaining a loyalist.

Ramiro Valdes, lauded in Cuba as a hero of the revolution, passed away at the age of 94, as announced by President Miguel Diaz-Canel on social media. Valdes was an early collaborator of Fidel Castro, participating in key revolutionary actions since the 1950s, and he was among the last surviving leaders of the Cuban Revolution alongside 95-year-old Raul Castro, according to Reuters and South China Morning Post.

Born on April 28, 1932, Valdes fought alongside Fidel Castro during the well-known Moncada Barracks assault in 1953, which catalyzed the revolution. His commitment to the revolutionary cause included serving as one of Fidel Castro's most trusted confidants and helping to form Cuba’s intelligence apparatus, noted Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.

Valdes held various top government roles throughout his career, including twice serving as minister of the interior and most recently as deputy prime minister focused on energy issues. His death was described by Diaz-Canel as deeply felt, akin to losing a father figure. Diaz-Canel emphasized Valdes' unwavering fidelity to the revolution, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

He remained engaged with Cuba's leadership into his later years, promoting the revolution's ideals during challenging economic times. Valdes' legacy will be reflected in Cuba’s political history, as he was an emblematic figure of the ideological foundations laid during the revolutionary years, noted by Al Jazeera and South China Morning Post.