In a tragic incident in Güines, Mayabeque province, Mariolis López Silio, aged 37 and a mother of four, was brutally murdered last Friday. The Alas Tensas Gender Observatory (OGAT) confirmed this as a femicide, marking the 20th case in Cuba for the year 2026.
The perpetrator, identified as Michael Pérez Sanabria, is her former partner and the father of her two youngest children. He remains at large and, according to OGAT, poses a significant threat to the community.
The observatory detailed that a firearm was used in the crime, and the victim was kidnapped on April 24 in various locations in Güines, including Mariolis's home and an open area known as the "Motocross Track."
Mariolis leaves behind four young children: an infant, a three-year-old boy, a 12-year-old boy, and a 15-year-old girl. The infant and the three-year-old are the children of the assailant.
Community Outcry and Police Inaction
Teresita Rodríguez, a cousin of the victim, expressed her grief on social media, stating: "This murderer named Michael killed my cousin Mariolis today, leaving four children orphaned, two of whom are his: a breastfeeding infant and a three-year-old boy. If you see him, report him to the police. A reward is offered for his capture."
Relatives, friends, and neighbors have shared images of the suspect online, offering a reward for any information regarding his whereabouts. They describe the response from the Güines police as negligent.
OGAT confirmed previous instances of violence by the assailant against Mariolis and her mother, who suffers from health issues due to past assaults.
Alarming Trend of Gender Violence
The observatory joined the community in criticizing the police's failure to respond to Mariolis's calls for help before the tragedy. In their statement, they urged the public to stop spreading false information and racist comments about these horrific incidents.
The organization emphasized that "nothing justifies taking a life violently. Women are human beings, not private property."
This case follows a recent double femicide in Batabanó, also in Mayabeque, where a mother and her 12-year-old daughter were killed, highlighting a disturbing concentration of gender-based violence in the province.
April has emerged as the most violent month of the year, with at least eight women killed, noted influencer Niover Licea.
Systemic Institutional Failures
Institutional negligence is not a rare occurrence. On April 13 in Bayamo, a woman was killed while on her way to report her aggressor to the police after he intercepted her in public.
Just three days before, on April 10 in Matanzas, a 23-year-old mother was murdered by her ex-partner in her home, illustrating the recurring pattern of lack of protection.
On April 25, the Cuban Foreign Ministry stated online that "there is and will be no impunity for gender-based violence in Cuba," a statement that starkly contrasts with the 20 documented femicides so far in 2026 and the absence of comprehensive gender violence legislation.
The 2022 Penal Code does not recognize femicide as an independent crime, only as an aggravating factor, and the government does not release official statistics on these crimes.
The Alas Tensas observatory also reminded the public that reporting these crimes is not a crime and offers an anonymous form on its website to report extreme violence against women and girls.
In 2025, Cuba saw 48 confirmed femicides, with 83.3% committed by partners or ex-partners, according to OGAT's underreported data. With 20 cases in just four months, 2026 is tragically on track to surpass that number.
Understanding the Femicide Crisis in Cuba
What is the current state of femicide in Cuba?
As of 2026, there have been 20 confirmed femicides in Cuba, highlighting an alarming trend of gender-based violence across the country.
How does the Cuban legal system address femicide?
The Cuban Penal Code does not classify femicide as an independent crime; it is only considered an aggravating circumstance, and there is no comprehensive law specifically addressing gender-based violence.
What actions are being taken to address gender violence in Cuba?
Organizations like the Alas Tensas Gender Observatory are actively documenting cases and advocating for change, while calling on the community to report incidents and stop misinformation and victim-blaming.