In Cuba, the government has warned against “terrorists based in the United States” and “enemies of the Revolution” who, according to it, are exploiting the wave of anger against long power cuts and food shortages in the country.
Hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets of Santiago de Cuba (South-East), the country’s second city, on Sunday, where residents have been deprived of electricity several times in recent days, sometimes for 14 hours.
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on the social network
He warned against “the enemies of the Revolution” who exploit this context “for destabilizing purposes”, castigating “terrorists based in the United States, whom we have denounced on several occasions, who encourage actions to destabilize the country “.
The United States Embassy in Cuba called on the Cuban government to “respect the rights […] Some protestors “.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez then urged Washington not to “interfere in the country’s internal affairs” on the same social network.
On social networks, images of demonstrations in Santiago de Cuba, as well as in Bayamo, in the neighboring province of Granma, were broadcast without AFP being able to immediately verify their authenticity.
In Santiago de Cuba (510,000 inhabitants), “people were shouting: ‘Food and electricity'”, a resident who requested anonymity told AFP by telephone. Electricity returned later in the day and “two truckloads of rice” were delivered.
Internet data services for cell phones were suspended in the city, according to several witnesses.
“Everything is expensive”
Long power outages and food shortages have pushed people “out into the streets,” said a 28-year-old beautician living in another Santiago neighborhood who also wished to remain anonymous. “Everything is expensive and salaries are low.”
“Let us hope that solutions emerge,” local archbishop Dionisio García said by telephone, confirming that the situation “was very difficult” in the city due to the cuts and hoping that “everyone can live with more serenity and of tranquility.”
Since the beginning of March, Cuba has been facing a new wave of breakdowns due to maintenance work on the Antonio Güiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest on the island, located in the province of Matanzas (center), about a hundred kilometers away. east of Havana.
This weekend the problem was compounded by the fuel shortage affecting the entire country. The fuel is needed to power other operational thermoelectric plants.
The entire island of Cuba was “affected” by power cuts, including the capital, Cuban authorities said on Saturday.
Sunday’s demonstration is the largest since those of 2022 when the island experienced daily power outages which had already provoked protests in several provinces as well as in Havana.
In 2022, Cuba experienced an unprecedented drop in its electricity production and even a widespread blackout caused by the hurricane Ian on September 27. The situation had improved in 2023.
Cuba’s electricity generation system consists of eight old thermoelectric plants, as well as generators and eight generator boats leased from Turkey, also affected by the lack of fuel.
The Cuban economy has failed to recover since the coronavirus pandemic. The weaknesses of its centralized system have worsened, at the same time as the American embargo, in force since 1962, has been strengthened. In 2023, GDP contracted by 2%, according to official figures.
Nearly three years ago, Cuba experienced major anti-government protests after months of confinement and absence of tourists. On July 11, 2021, thousands of Cubans demonstrated in an unprecedented way, shouting: “We are hungry!” » or “Down with dictatorship!” “. Hundreds of protesters were sentenced to up to 25 years in prison.