The Cuban Resistance Assembly (ARC), a coalition that unites opposition figures both inside and outside Cuba, has called for the resignation of leader Miguel Díaz-Canel amid an escalating energy crisis impacting the Cuban people. In a statement released on Tuesday, the ARC criticized Díaz-Canel's response, accusing him of threatening protestors rallying across various cities in the nation.
According to EFE, the statement emphasizes that the energy crisis, worsened by fuel shortages and frequent breakdowns in the outdated thermal power plants, underscores the "failure" of the Cuban system. The ARC argues that the dire state of the country, plagued by repression, hunger, and a lack of essential services, has become unbearable.
Protests Erupt Across Cuba
In cities such as Havana, Camagüey, and Santiago de Cuba, residents have been banging pots and staging protests, demanding solutions to the persistent power outages. The ARC notes that while the island is plunged into darkness, the protests fuel the people's ongoing demands against the regime.
Last Friday, when the National Electric System (SEN) completely collapsed at midday, Cubans experienced a severe and prolonged blackout, with some areas enduring over 72 hours without power, severely disrupting daily life. Although the regime has vowed to resolve the crisis, the condition of the country's deteriorating electrical infrastructure has only worsened.
Díaz-Canel's Threatening Stance
The ongoing power issues have led to increased stress on the SEN, now operating as fragmented "islands" or "microsystems," teetering on the brink of total or partial collapse, leaving the public to bear the brunt of the failed communist system. Adding to the turmoil, Díaz-Canel appeared at the National Defense Council (CDN) meeting on Sunday night, dressed in military garb, where he bluntly threatened to suppress potential civilian protests in response to the national electrical system's breakdown, which has plunged the Cuban population into unprecedented chaos.
After delivering an update on the country’s catastrophic situation without offering any immediate solutions—and accompanied by Prime Minister Manuel Marrero, also in military attire—the leader issued a menacing warning. "There is every readiness, ability, and the deployment and scale of the systems we have organized from the defense councils, the party, the government, and administrations to respond to the population's concerns, as long as it's done in a civilized, organized, and disciplined manner," he stated.
“However, we will not accept or allow anyone to provoke vandalism or disturb the peace of our people, and this is a conviction and a principle of our revolution,” he added.
Natural Disaster Compounds Crisis
On Monday, the island's president reported that at least six people in San Antonio del Sur municipality were affected as Hurricane Oscar, which hit Guantánamo on Sunday before downgrading to a tropical storm, swept through. Amid the ongoing electricity outages, the storm caught tens of thousands off guard, unaware of the event due to the inability to access information through media channels.