CUBAN OVERSEAS PRESENCE

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP77M00144R000400100004-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 2
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: September 6, 2001
• Sequence Number: 4
• Content Type: LIST

Approved For. Release 2001/11/01: CIA-RDP77M00144R000400100004-6
CUBAN OVERSEAS PRESENCE
I. Total known diplomatic, commercial
and other (e.g., Prensa Latina news agency) Cuban
civilian personnel officially stationed abroad ..............1.,076
II. Included in the above, total known
and suspect personnel of the Direccion General
de Inteligencia (DGI)*, Departamento de Seguridad
del Estado (DSE)* and other intelligence and
security entities stationed overseas under offi-
cial or quasi-official cover in Embassies, com-
mercial missions, Cubana Airline or Prensa Latina
offices, etc. ....................................
*Note: The DGI, a covert unit within the Cuban
Interior Ministry, is Cubans overseas
espionage organization. The DSE, an
overt part of that Ministry, is primarily
responsible for Cuban internal security
but also handles certain security func-
tions in the larger Cuban missions abroad.
III. Present and recent-past Cuban military
presence overseas (in some areas, as indicated,
totals include some diplomatic and other non-
military personnel such as construction super-
visors, medical units and other technical teams.):~
ANGOLA ("advisors" and combat troops) .............. O to- ,-88?B?
CONGO/Brazzaville (unknown number -- this is a
major staging area and rear
base for Cubans enroute to
military units in Angola) .... ..... .........
GUINEA (Total presence of about 320, only a
portion of whom are known military or
intelligence/security personnel) ......... approximately 60
EQUATORIAL GUINEA (diplomatic, military and tech-
nical -- no breakdown by speci-
fic category available although
Cuban military personnel staff.
the presidential guard and are
also involved in train:.ng the
armed forces, militia znd other
security elements) approximately 500
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GUINEA-BISSAU (military personnel in addition to
diplomatic, commercial and tech-
nical staff) .............................. 20 to 25
SIERRA LEONE (military personnel in addition to
diplomats, etc.) ................... approximately 20
SOMALIA (military personnel 'in addition to small
Embassy staff) ........................... approximately SO
TANZANIA (Total Cuban presence, of whom 15 are
listed as diplomats. No breakdown
available on other categories) ......... approximately 500
PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF YEMEN (Cuban presence in all cate-
gories more than tripled be-
tween late 1973 and mid-1974.
Buildup was primarily military,
consisting of advisors and
training cadre, medical teams
and pilots for Soviet MIG air-
craft) ....................... approximately 700
25X1 C
early 1975 the strength of this unit was`
approximately 500 officers and men; its
mission included training Syrians in the
use of Soviet-made tanks and other sophisti-
cated tactical weaponry. The unit may have
subsequently been withdrawn upon completion
of its training mission and turnover-of its
weapons and mat6riel to the Syrians. As
recently as May 1975, however, more than
100 Cuban military instructors were reported
to be in and near the Damascus area. Some
of them were MIG pilots. The present .
strength of the Cuban military contingent
in Syria is unknown.
Approved For Release 2001/11/01: CIA-RDP77M00144R000400100004-6