Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported a new wave of cacerolazos, or pot-banging protests, on Thursday. The demonstrations took place in two Cuban cities: Vedado in Havana and Reparto Portuondo in Santiago de Cuba, where residents have been enduring over 12 hours without electricity.
Mayeta Labrada shared details of these protests through public Facebook posts. "Reports of pot-banging in Reparto Portuondo, Santiago de Cuba, following more than 12 hours without power," he noted in one update. In a separate post, moments earlier, he stated, "Cacerolazos happening in Vedado at this very moment."
This latest surge of protests adds to a series of cacerolazos that have been sweeping across various neighborhoods in Havana and other cities. Between May 12 and 13, demonstrations were recorded in Luyanó, Reparto Bahía, Marianao, Nuevo Vedado, and San Miguel del Padrón, where residents shouted, "Electricity and food!" outside municipal government offices.
Santiago de Cuba Joins the Wave of Protests
The expansion of these protests to Santiago de Cuba is noteworthy, as it demonstrates that unrest is spreading beyond the capital to the country's second-largest city. Santiago de Cuba had previously experienced cacerolazos in March 2026.
The immediate cause of these protests is the ongoing energy crisis. Minister of Energy and Mines, Vicente de la O Levy, acknowledged on Wednesday that Havana has been experiencing power outages lasting between 20 to 22 hours daily, with only two hours of electricity. "The situation is very tense. Temperatures are rising. We need fuel," he stated. On that day, the system's maximum shortfall reached 2,113 MW at 8:40 PM, with only 1,230 MW available against a demand of 3,250 MW.
Public Outcry and Government Response
The minister's statements were immediately met with criticism from the Cuban public. Citizens responded with comments like, "What is the solution? Or does the people have to keep paying for their irresponsibility?" and "But there's enough for repression and for Canel's Mercedes and BMWs."
The crisis is rooted in structural issues. Venezuela halted its oil shipments in November 2025, Mexico followed suit in January 2026, and the last Russian shipment—730,000 barrels—arrived on March 31 and was depleted by early May. In April, only one of the eight monthly fuel shipments that Cuba requires arrived. Even Díaz-Canel admitted that the situation is "particularly tense" and that the country has lost the ability to generate 1,100 MW due to a lack of fuel.
Systemic Collapse and International Attention
Cuba has experienced seven total collapses of its electrical system in 18 months, the most severe occurring on March 16, 2026, with nearly 30 hours of a nationwide blackout. The regime's response to the protests has been one of repression: at least 14 arrests in Havana since March 6 have been linked to cacerolazos, according to the organization Cubalex.
The Cuban Conflict Observatory documented 1,133 protests in April 2026 alone, marking a 29.5% increase compared to the same month the previous year. The United Nations has labeled the situation a humanitarian emergency.
Understanding Cuba's Energy Crisis and Public Response
What triggered the recent cacerolazos in Santiago de Cuba?
The cacerolazos were sparked by prolonged power outages exceeding 12 hours, which have frustrated residents in Santiago de Cuba and other cities.
How has the Cuban government responded to the protests?
The government's response has involved repression, with at least 14 arrests in Havana linked to the protests, according to reports.
What are the underlying causes of Cuba's energy crisis?
The crisis is largely due to structural issues, including the halt of oil shipments from Venezuela and Mexico and insufficient fuel imports to meet the country's needs.