He also participated in peace negotiations between Angola and South Africa, which led to the independence of Namibia and contributed to the release of Nelson Mandela and the end of apartheid.

"[5] Upon his return from Africa in 1967, Risquet was in multiple government roles, including Minister of Labor, where he led public policy of lambasting Cuban women that stayed at home, rather than committing to working.

[3] Risquet's start in assistance to Africa was in 1965, when Castro sent him to work with the government of Congo-Brazzaville while Che Guevara fought against CIA-backed mercenaries in Congo-Leopoldville, or Zaire.

[7] There, he was integral in mitigating a military coup from taking place, and he additionally was a part of Congo-Brazzaville's first initiative to vaccinate children for polio, and as a result thousands of Congolese youth were inoculated.

[5] Because of his efforts in the Congo and close ties with the MPLA, Risquet was chosen to lead diplomatic relations with Angola once the dictatorship under Portugal fell apart in 1975.

[8] Cuba, however, was economically burdened by the internationalist mission in Angola, and could not support the immense capital and human costs, leading to Risquet returning to Havana in 1979.