Mónica Baró Criticizes "El Cangrejo's" Role in Cuba-U.S. Talks, Calling the System a "Mafia"

Cuban journalist Mónica Baró has issued scathing criticism of the power structure in Cuba, focusing on the involvement of Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro—grandson of Raúl Castro—in official negotiations between the Cuban government and the United States.

Baró argues that the presence of the man known as El Cangrejo in these discussions highlights the absence of a genuine institutional system in Cuba, suggesting instead a familial power structure. "What we have in the country is a mafia," she stated firmly.

In a video shared on Instagram, the reporter made a surprising admission: "I never thought I would say this, but I am glad that Raúl Castro is alive at this moment."

Her point is not in defense of the former leader, but rather that his presence helps to dismantle the narrative that has long portrayed the Cuban system as a revolution driven by ideals. "It's a magnificent opportunity for those who still believe in a Cuba led by noble ideals of justice to realize that what we have is a mafia," she asserted.

The Power of a Family Elite

Baró criticizes a model of power concentrated in a family elite that controls every aspect of the country without formal mechanisms or public legitimacy. She questioned why El Cangrejo plays a role in U.S. negotiations, despite lacking official titles or merits.

"A mafia, a family that controls everything. They don't need their descendants to hold public office or have any recognition to make decisions. They don't need El Cangrejo to have any merit to dictate the fate of all Cubans," she declared.

Elaborating on why this is revealing, she said, "If El Cangrejo is negotiating with the Americans, it's because his grandfather told him to."

The Illusion of Institutional Decision-Making

Reports indicate that Raúl Guillermo is entwined in power circles, despite holding no visible official positions. His alleged involvement in U.S. dealings exposes the true nature of political decision-making in Cuba.

For Baró, this scenario dismantles a key tenet of the official rhetoric: that decisions are made by institutions or reflect the people's will. In reality, Cuba is governed by closed circles where family ties outweigh formal structures.

Baró also suggested a hypothetical scenario to highlight contradictions within the official narrative.

"In another context, what would people say if Raúl were dead? 'The family betrayed him. The grandson betrayed him. The son betrayed him. But the historical generation would never have allowed this,'" she emphasized.

However, she pointed out that the truth is different: "Not only are they allowing it, they're ordering it."

A Call to Recognize Reality

Her reflection suggests that the so-called "historical generation" continues to direct and endorse decisions that contradict the discourse sustaining Cuban power for years, now through their descendants.

Baró concluded with a call to confront the country's reality as a first step towards profound change. "As painful as it is to recognize that we've been deceived and that our emotions were manipulated, the sooner we understand our reality, the sooner we will be free," she emphasized.

She added a key thought summarizing her message: "And better, because we'll heal as a nation sooner, too."

Her words resonate with growing discontent both inside and outside Cuba, where increasing voices challenge the lack of transparency, absence of citizen participation, and concentration of power in the hands of an elite making unaccounted decisions about the country's direction.