Cuba in the Dark: Blackouts Fueling Public Protests
Cubans persevere during the blackout, cooking over an open fire in the dark as they face gas and electricity shortages amid ongoing power outages. Source: Politico
Last week, Cuba experienced a nationwide blackout after the Antonio Guiteras thermoelectric plant—one of the country’s largest—went offline, triggering a complete grid failure. Nearly the entire Cuban population felt the impact. Despite government efforts to restore power, responses were slow and ineffective, adding to public disillusionment. Cuba’s energy sector has deteriorated for years due to outdated infrastructure, lack of investment, and diminished oil shipments from Venezuela, a former key ally now facing its own economic crises. Maintenance neglect and fuel shortages have compounded the grid's instability, making energy outages common. For many, this blackout underscores a more profound crisis, reflecting not just infrastructure breakdowns but a persistent pattern of governance failures and resource misallocation that have left citizens increasingly hopeless.
In response to the blackout, Cuba's Prime Minister Manuel Marrero warned citizens against organizing protests, threatening that any disruptive demonstrations would result in arrests. Despite the warning, many Cubans have continued to take to the streets, voicing frustration over the government’s slow response and the worsening energy crisis, impacting daily life with water and power shortages. Many Cubans have taken to the streets, expressing their discontent through cacerolazos, the rhythmic banging of pots and pans. One citizen, 28-year-old Yaima Valladares shared with AFP, "We’re fed up, as if there isn't already a lot of stress from living here." Authorities, aware of these concerns, have implemented temporary school and business closures to conserve energy. Yet, public discontent continues to grow as citizens demand more substantial, long-term solutions to the ongoing issues.
However, blackouts have not been a recent issue. These blackouts are a symptom of Cuba's long history of communist repressive policies and economic mismanagement. The roots of Cuba’s humanitarian and economic decline can be traced back to the communist policies instituted after Fidel Castro’s rise to power in 1959. Following the Cuban Revolution, Castro's communist regime imposed policies that gradually drained the country’s economic vitality and diminished the quality of life for ordinary citizens. Castro's communist regime imposed policies that prioritized state control over economic flexibility. This decision hindered energy infrastructure investments and stifled growth in other sectors. Although power plants worldwide face occasional outages, Cuba’s crisis extends beyond simple infrastructure issues, reflecting a broader backdrop of economic hardship and human rights abuses. In 2023, reports indicated that Cuba had become the poorest country in Latin America, with 90% of its population living in extreme poverty. The Cuban populace has reached their breaking point. However, the government has not responded appropriately. Cuba has historically suffered human rights violations, a lack of political freedom, and the deterioration of democratic institutions to silence the people’s cry for help. This crisis exemplifies the devastating impact of communist policies on a once-prosperous nation and serves as a cautionary tale for the world about the dangers of authoritarian governance.
Cuba’s crisis, reflected in the blackouts, goes beyond U.S. sanctions. While the government frequently blames the U.S. embargo, the root issues lie in its own policies: prioritizing tourism over citizens' needs and using funds to tighten political control. Many experts argue that the regime uses the embargo as a scapegoat to deflect from its systemic mismanagement, leaving the population to suffer amid ongoing blackouts.
The Cuban government’s focus on generating revenue from tourism has sidelined its duty to meet citizens' basic needs. A significant part of the national budget goes toward boosting the tourism industry and state enterprises, often neglecting essential services. Many high-quality foods are reserved for tourists, while locals live in run-down homes and struggle to find staples like rice and beans. This diversion of funds away from critical infrastructure, including the power grid, has worsened frequent blackouts, impacting daily life and access to essentials like food storage. This stark contrast between tourist luxuries and local hardships fuels growing public discontent and underscores the government’s failure to prioritize its own people amid a deepening economic crisis.
The Cuban government consistently allocates its national budget toward security measures to maintain political control, rather than addressing essential needs like reliable energy. A substantial portion of resources funds military and security forces aimed at quelling dissent and sustaining regime stability. Although officials recognize public dissatisfaction, instead of compromising and adopting a more democratic, humanitarian approach, they tighten their control. This focus on security comes at a steep cost to vital infrastructure, especially in power generation, where aging plants suffer from a lack of investment and maintenance. The government’s strategy to ensure its grip on power has sparked a new wave of protests. In essence, the regime's allocation of resources reflects a troubling priority: maintaining control and suppressing opposition rather than investing in the welfare of the Cuban people.
Cuban citizens are suffering beyond the recent blackout, with severe shortages of food, medicine, and essentials. Nearly 88% of families live in extreme poverty, and around 70% have skipped meals due to high inflation and wages averaging just $10-$20 monthly. The dual currency system has worsened inequality, deepening public frustration. As conditions deteriorate and repression intensifies, Cubans are increasingly unwilling to tolerate the harsh realities of over 65 years of communist rule.
Cuban citizens, worn down by these crises, are taking to the streets in unprecedented protests demanding change. The first burst of protests occurred in July 2021, resurfaced earlier this year in March 2024, and once again this October. Years of government mismanagement, compounded by power outages and the lack of basic goods, have brought people to a breaking point. Protesters call for improved living conditions, political accountability, and reforms from a regime that has long neglected their needs. However, the government has responded with harsh measures, including violent crackdowns, arbitrary arrests, and systemic repression. Protesters face severe human rights violations as security forces use excessive force to silence dissent. Independent journalists reporting on these protests are also targeted, and the government has restricted internet access to hinder the organization of demonstrations and control the narrative. Despite the risks, the Cuban people remain resolute in their demand for change, fueled by years of frustration and a deep desire for a better future.
If the Cuban government refuses to help its own people, the question remains: who will? Human rights organizations and the United Nations are pressuring the regime to address the ongoing crisis and protect basic freedoms. Yet, true change may ultimately depend on the resolve of the Cuban people, who are risking their safety in pursuit of a better future. Their struggle goes beyond economic reform; it is about reclaiming their dignity and voice in a system that has long suppressed them. Without internal reforms or external support, the future remains uncertain, but the protests reflect a growing determination for change in the face of government repression.
As Cubans reach a crucial point in their struggle for dignity and fundamental rights, the international community must listen and act. The recent blackouts and severe shortages underscore the dangers of unchecked authoritarianism and neglect. Cuba’s crisis illustrates how oppressive regimes can erode a once-thriving nation. Global allies must support Cuban calls for change, urging the regime to reform and respect fundamental freedoms. By doing so, they amplify the Cuban people’s demand for justice and stand firmly against authoritarianism worldwide.