HAVANA — Ramiro Valdés Menéndez, a Cuban revolutionary and former vice president, died on Sunday at the age of 94. The Communist Party and Cuba's government issued a joint statement announcing the death.

Valdés Menéndez was born on April 28, 1932, in Artemisa, Cuba. He participated in the 1953 attack on the Moncada military barracks and later fought under the command of Ernesto "Che" Guevara. He held the title of Commander of the Revolution and was awarded the title "Hero of the Republic of Cuba."

Valdés Menéndez served as interior minister. In 1986, while serving in that role, he had a disagreement with Fidel Castro. He rejoined the Council of State in 2003, and in 2006, he was appointed to lead the telecommunications ministry. He was elevated to vice president in 2009 and elected as the third-ranking leader of the Communist Party in 2011.

In 1997, Valdés Menéndez led a mission to Bolivia to locate and repatriate the remains of Ernesto "Che" Guevara.

The joint statement from the Communist Party and Cuba's government did not provide details on the cause of death. Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba, posted on X about Valdés Menéndez's death. Díaz-Canel said, "Every act in Commander Ramiro's life was marked by his absolute loyalty to the leadership of Fidel and Raúl." He also stated on X that Valdés' death hurt like the loss of a father.

A statement published by Cubadebate said, "Ramiro Valdés Menéndez deserves the respect and admiration of the Cuban people for his dedication and proven loyalty to the revolutionary cause."