Social protests have knocked on Cuba’s doors once more, this time in the eastern region, in Santiago—the city where, back in July 1956, the insurrection against Fulgencio Batista began. “Move and food” was the rallying cry as hundreds shouted their grievances. The power outages and rising prices had accumulated into a noise that finally found a voice. Although the government briefly cut internet access, images of the unrest managed to escape the island via social media. After hours of silence, President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged that the conflict had returned to the streets. He stated that people had voiced their dissatisfaction with the electricity service and food distribution, adding that adversaries of the Revolution would use this context to sow instability on the island, and emphasizing that any response would come in a calm environment on the part of state actors.
In a tone shift from celebration of Vladimir Putin’s electoral win, Díaz-Canel offered concern instead of jubilation. He pointed to external interference as the source of discontent, claiming that terrorists based in the United States were encouraging actions against the country’s internal order. He asserted a willingness from party, state, and government authorities to address the people’s demands, to listen, to explain the many efforts underway to improve conditions, and to do so in a tranquil atmosphere.
He reiterated that, as in the July 11, 2022 upheaval that touched several cities, American sanctions were the principal driver of public anger. He pledged to continue working in peace to overcome the situation, even while under a blockade described as strangling the economy.
Acumulated discontent
Memories of the 11J protests, which ended in numerous arrests and prosecutions for sedition, resurfaced as Sunday unfolded across the archipelago. The power outages, rising costs, and shortages had intensified in the preceding weeks. The Sunday mobilization reached the heart of Santiago, and social media circulated striking images illustrating the depth of the crisis. Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, recently named secretary of the Communist Party for the province, attempted to shepherd residents back to their homes. She stood on a rooftop as shouting voices interrupted her, with many crying out, “No more speeches.” The situation was seen as unprecedented in five and a half decades.
As in 2022, the chant “Patria y Vida”—a counterpoint to the regime’s historic slogan “Patria y Muerte” coined in 1960—resounded with renewed force. The phrase originates from a song recorded by Cuban exiles that gained extensive circulation inside the island.
There were also reports of incidents in Bayamo, in Granma province, where social media suggested chants of solidarity with the idea that “the people united will never be defeated,” a slogan echoing the era of Chile’s Unidad Popular. The Holguín province experienced a tense mood as well.
The latest clashes come amid an increasingly uneasy climate. The energy crisis, coupled with a dramatic surge in fuel prices—reported to have risen by as much as 500 percent as part of energy reforms—has overshadowed other news. In this broader context, the minister of Economy, Alejandro Gil Fernández, has faced sharp criticism and unspecified charges, signaling a wider political strain.