On 16 February 1959, Fidel Castro was sworn in as the 16th Prime Minister of Cuba, cementing his position as the leader of the revolution that had toppled the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista.
After years of guerrilla warfare in the Sierra Maestra and rallying the Cuban people against corruption and imperialist influence, Castro's ascension marked the beginning of sweeping socio-political transformations.
His leadership heralded agrarian reforms, nationalisation of industries, and an ideological shift towards socialism, setting Cuba on a path that would define its global stance for decades.
While his supporters lauded him as a liberator, critics feared the consolidation of power that would soon turn into a decades-long rule, shaping the island nation’s history in ways unforeseen at the time.
