Fidel CASTRO led a rebel army to victory in 1959 against dictator Batista. He has led the country ever since. April 17-21, 1961, there was the failed invasion of the [Bay of Pigs]? by about 1500 revolution refugees, recruited, paid and trained by the CIA.
The country is now slowly recovering from a severe economic recession following the withdrawal of former Soviet subsidies, worth $4 billion to $6 billion annually, in 1990. Havana blames its difficulties on the US embargo in place since 1962.