The Cuban government says the release of political prisoners continues as it is a policy, despite the US President, Donald Trump reinstating the country on the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism.

The release of prisoners began early this year, following official talks between President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez and Vatican's Pope Francis in 2024.

The Cuban authorities began the process of releasing 553 prisoners, following the appeal by the Catholic church, to be undertaken ''in spirit of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025."

They were convicted of various crimes including the 2021 anti-government protests.

Cuba's Head of Mission in Namibia also clarified media reports tying the release to former US President Joe Biden's last minute order to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

The order has since been rescinded by the new Trump administration, but Cuban authorities maintain that the freeing of prisoners is a policy that they have been enforcing over the years.