Over the past two days, Bayamo, the capital of Granma Province, has become a focal point for the growing public discontent in Cuba. Spontaneous protests erupted as a result of prolonged power outages, food shortages, and lack of water. Dozens of citizens took to the streets in various neighborhoods, demanding immediate solutions and shouting slogans like "No queremos más muela!" which translates to "We don't want more empty promises!"
In response to the mounting pressure, the regime not only deployed special forces and Communist Party officials to the streets but also intensified its digital efforts. Alongside the usual internet blackouts and mobile connection issues, a robust propaganda campaign on official social media platforms aimed to portray an image of tranquility, dialogue, and complete control over the situation.
While videos circulating on Facebook and X (previously Twitter) showed Bayamo residents confronting leaders surrounded by Interior Ministry and military officers, various pro-regime accounts began posting images of empty streets, lit streetlights, and captions like "everything is calm" or "peacefully engaging with the people."
On X, user Tania María Heredia shared images of an alleged exchange between leaders and residents at a Bayamo roundabout, emphasizing hashtags like #UnidosPorCuba and mentioning figures of power like @DiazCanelB and @PartidoPCC. Similar messages were shared by Carlos Borges Oliveros, the Cuban Communist Party's communications head, and Eduardo López Leyva, a regime spokesman based in Mexico, who both claimed the situation was "complex, but calm."
“Always calm on this hot night,” wrote Borges, starkly contradicting viral videos showing cries for "freedom" and military presence. A post by "cyber fighter" Frank Enrique drew criticism for depicting a deserted street with the phrase "Bayamo right now. All calm," reminiscent of past campaigns where the regime attempted to silence dissent through a narrative of normalcy.
This is not the first time the Cuban government has resorted to such narrative containment strategies. During the July 11 protests in 2021, the demonstrations in Nuevitas in 2022, and recent outbursts in Santiago or Guantánamo, a similar pattern emerged: initial denial, criminalization of protesters, repressive deployment, followed by dissemination of images promoting calm and institutional cohesion.
Alongside these publications, Miguel Díaz-Canel once again resorted to rhetoric about "enemy strategies" to delegitimize the mobilizations, warning that "disorders will not be allowed," thus downplaying the real causes of the social unrest: hunger, blackouts, shortages, inflation, and loss of trust in political power.
Meanwhile, official figures like Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, coordinator of the CDR, attempted to connect with the population through a narrative of solidarity. On social media, he posted an image with neighbors in the dark as a gesture of empathy, but many users perceived it as an empty propaganda attempt.
In contrast, images shared by citizens depict a populace that has lost its fear, with women confronting officials with firm words and young people documenting every second with their phones. In this landscape of widespread crisis, social media has become a battleground between a citizenry demanding and documenting, and a regime striving to maintain an appearance of normalcy at all costs.
Understanding the Recent Protests in Bayamo, Cuba
What triggered the recent protests in Bayamo?
The protests in Bayamo were sparked by prolonged power outages, food shortages, and lack of water, which have contributed to growing public discontent in Cuba.
How has the Cuban government responded to these protests?
The Cuban regime responded by deploying special forces and Communist Party officials to the streets and launching a propaganda campaign on social media to project an image of calm and control.
What role do social media play in the Bayamo protests?
Social media has become a crucial battleground, with citizens using it to document and demand change, while the regime attempts to maintain an appearance of normalcy.