Cubans rally against power blackouts in rare street protest

• The president attributes the situation to US sanctions, but critics accuse the government of mismanagement.
• In February, the government requested assistance from the UN’s food program to address food shortages.
• Tensions have escalated as power generators struggle to obtain fuel for electricity supply and food preservation.

On Sunday, hundreds of people in Cuba’s second-largest city, Santiago, took to the streets in a rare public protest, voicing their grievances over chronic power blackouts and food shortages. The island is grappling with its worst economic crisis in three decades, with large swathes of Cuba experiencing power outages lasting more than 14 hours a day.

Videos on social media show people chanting “power and food”.

The president attributes the situation to US sanctions, but critics accuse the government of mismanagement. Since 1960, the US has upheld an economic embargo against Cuba, imposing strict trade regulations between the countries. The economy of Cuba, a communist-run island with approximately 11 million inhabitants, has experienced severe difficulties in recent years. The coronavirus pandemic exacerbated the strain on the cash-strapped nation, resulting in widespread shortages of food, fuel, and medicine.

In February, the government made an unprecedented request to the UN’s food program for assistance in addressing food shortages, specifically asking for powdered milk to be provided to children under the age of seven. However, tensions have escalated in recent weeks as power generators struggle to obtain the fuel necessary for supplying electricity to households and for preserving food in refrigerators and freezers. Record-breaking numbers of Cubans have migrated to the US due to the economic conditions.

A 65-year-old resident in Santiago informed the news agency that electricity in the city was restored later on Sunday, and “two truckloads of rice” were delivered. Santiago, located 800km (500 miles) east of the capital, Havana, witnessed “peaceful protests,” according to reports acknowledged by the US embassy there. Reports indicated similar demonstrations occurring in Bayamo and other regions of Cuba.

“We urge the Cuban government to respect the human rights of the protesters and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people,” it added.

Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel acknowledged the protests on social media and stated that his government and authorities were “disposed” to address the complaints of the people, listen, engage in dialogue, and explain the numerous efforts being made to improve the situation. Earlier this month, the government implemented an eye-watering price hike on fuel as part of its economic recovery plan, resulting in the cost of available fuel soaring to more than five times its previous price.

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