The Ministry of the Interior of the Republic of Cuba (), also known as MININT, is the Cuban government ministry which oversees the home affairs of Cuba. Its headquarters is in a building of Plaza de la Revolución, a central and famous square of Havana.
History It was founded on June 6, 1961, replacing and expanding the old Ministry of the Interior (Ministerio de Gobernación), inherited by the Cuban Revolution from the previous governments.
Functions The organs and structures that are part of the Minister fulfill functions of citizen security, and the establishment of the internal order. The MININT also includes various logistics agencies, force preparation, etc. In addition, it has commercial companies that provide security services as SEPSA (Specialized Protection Services, S.A.), SEISA or ACERPROT), which include chain stores selling to the population.
The Ministry oversees the functions of security and public order through the National Revolutionary Police Force (PNR) and the auxiliary body of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR).
The MININT has its own teaching system, with several national schools (higher institutes) and schools in the provinces. In Havana, it has a polytechnic institute (named Instituto Superior del MININT Eliseo Reyes Rodríguez), for the training of media technicians in specialties related to criminal and police investigation lines.
Structure The following structure is in place with MININT as of 2021:
National Revolutionary Police Force Dirección de Inteligencia Special National Brigade (or Black Berets) State Security Department Technical Directorate of Investigations Directorate of Border Guard Troops Cuban Fire Department Directorate of Personal Security Directorate of Criminal Investigation and Operations Directorate of Penitentiary Establishments Directorate of Attention to Minors Directorate of Identification, Immigration and Aliens
Special National Brigade The Special National Brigade (), also referred to as the Black Berets () or SNB, is a special forces brigade run by the MININT.US Department of the Treasury, (July 22, 2021) "Treasury Sanctions Cuban Minister of Defense and Special Forces Brigade for Abuses Against Protestors" US Department of the Treasury, https://home.treasury.gov/news/press-releases/jy0288 It performs missions that deal with riot control, hostage rescue, and counterterrorism.American Security Council Foundation, (August 1, 2021) "Report: Chinese Paramilitary Trained Cuban ‘Black Beret’ Repressive Force" The American Security Council Foundation, 2024, https://www.ascf.us/news/report-chinese-paramilitary-trained-cuban-black-beret-repressive-force/ The SNB was deployed in response to pro-democracy protests that began on July 11, 2021.Grant, Will, (August 19, 2021) "'We felt free': Cubans remain defiant in face of protest crackdown" BBC, 2024, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-58255555, Date accessed: May 28, 2024Human Rights Watch, (July 11, 2022) "Prison or Exile: Cuba’s Systematic Repression of July 2021 Demonstrators" Human Rights Watch, 2024, https://www.hrw.org/report/2022/07/11/prison-or-exile/cubas-systematic-repression-july-2021-demonstratorsAtwood, Kylie; Oppmann, Patrick; & Hansler, Jennifer, (July 23, 2021) "Biden administration sanctions Cuban regime in wake of protests" CNN Politics, Cable News Network, 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/22/politics/biden-cuba-sanctions/index.html, Date accessed: May 30, 2024 The United States government sanctioned them because of human rights concerns related to mass arrests and physical violence used against the protesters, which the Cuban government opposes.Bredemeier, Ken, (July 22, 2021) "Biden Condemns Cuba for Crackdown on Freedom Protesters" Voice of America, https://www.voanews.com/a/usa_us-politics_biden-condemns-cuba-crackdown-freedom-protesters/6208587.html, Date Accessed: July 13, 2024Blinken, Antony J., (JULY 22, 2021) "Sanctioning Cuban Security Forces in Response to Violent Repression of Protests" US Department of State, https://www.state.gov/sanctioning-cuban-security-forces-in-response-to-violent-repression-of-protests/Canal Caribe, (July 26, 2024) "Combatientes de Cuba patentizan su respaldo a la revolución" Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IZRQTCDJJE, Date accessed: September 7, 2024 The Black Berets celebrated the fortieth anniversary of its founding on August 9, 2020.Canal Caribe, (August 9, 2020) "La Brigada Especial Nacional celebra su aniversario 40." Youtube, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ScGDyxW4mWA, Date accessed: September 7, 2024
As of April 4, 2022, the Special National Brigade is led by Brigadier General Noaldo Arcas Rodríguez.Serpa, Carlos Manuel, (April 12, 2024) "Recuerdan aniversario 60 de la obtención de la primera medalla olímpica por el deporte revolucionario" TRIBUNA DE LA HABANA, 2020, https://www.tribuna.cu/deportes/2024-04-12/recuerdan-aniversario-60-de-la-obtencion-de-la-primera-medalla-olimpica-por-el-deporte-revolucionario, Date accessed: September 8, 2024 The Black Berets have trained with China's People's Armed Police (PAP), who trained them in hand-to-hand combat, hostage rescue, tactical shooting, and handling large riots.
Ministers † denotes people who died in office.
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