The night sky over Santiago de Cuba echoed once again with the clamor of pots and pans this Thursday, as residents protested against the ongoing power outages.
Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared footage capturing the sounds of banging cookware in the Municipal District of the eastern city. The video, recorded in complete darkness, starkly highlighted the blackout affecting the area at that time.
Later in the day, Mayeta Labrada reported that the protest had spread to the 18-story buildings in Santiago de Cuba, just a short distance from the headquarters of the Communist Party of Cuba in the province, marking an expansion of the demonstrations.
Persistent Protests in Santiago de Cuba
These expressions of discontent are far from isolated incidents. Santiago has been the epicenter of continuous protests over the energy crisis. On June 18, simultaneous cacerolazos swept through various districts—Sueño, Santa Bárbara, Antonio Maceo, Veguita de Galo, Mármol, Altamira, and Chicharrones. By June 19, protests had reached within a few blocks of the provincial Communist Party headquarters, and on June 29, the regime deployed armed black berets in Chicharrones to intimidate demonstrators.
Protests Spread Across the Island
The wave of unrest wasn’t confined to Santiago. On the same Thursday, residents in La Lisa, Havana, staged a protest in front of the Communist Party headquarters after enduring over 50 hours without electricity or water. Meanwhile, the sound of pots resonated in El Cerro's Primelles street, prompting a significant police presence with vehicles patrolling the area.
In another instance, dozens of residents in Regla took to the streets after more than 24 hours without power, chanting, "We want to sleep with lights; we want to live like humans." A local resident, Nelson Vázquez, reported that the authorities briefly restored power—just long enough for the police to arrive—before it was cut again, leaving them without service for 48 hours.
Structural Crisis Behind the Protests
Each protest is fueled by a deep-seated structural crisis. As of June 25, the electricity generation shortfall hit a record 2,208 MW, plunging nearly 70% of the country into darkness. Of Cuba's 16 thermoelectric units, nine are out of operation, including the largest, the Antonio Guiteras Power Plant.
In Santiago, the Electric Company reorganized the power cuts into nine blocks since June 16, providing each area with just one or two hours of electricity per day. On June 1, a company executive admitted they couldn't even guarantee this limited supply.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory recorded 1,133 protests in April 2026 alone, a 29.5% increase from the previous year, with 153 directly related to power and water shortages. The regime's response has been repression—deploying black berets, conducting police operations, and cutting internet access—without offering any tangible solutions to the energy collapse.
The Minister of Energy acknowledged that Cuba has been operating without fuel reserves for months and warned that 2026 would be "a difficult year."
Understanding the Cuban Energy Crisis
What sparked the recent protests in Santiago de Cuba?
The recent protests in Santiago de Cuba were ignited by prolonged power outages, leading residents to express their frustration through cacerolazos.
How widespread are power outages in Cuba?
Power outages have affected nearly 70% of Cuba, with significant portions of the country experiencing extended periods without electricity.
What is the government's response to the energy crisis?
The Cuban government has responded to the energy crisis with repressive measures such as deploying police and military forces, but has yet to provide effective solutions to the underlying issues.