In the early hours of Wednesday, the people of Cabañas, a town in Mariel within the province of Artemisa, once again took to the streets to express their frustration, as reported by the platform NiO Reportando Un Crimen (Niover Licea) via Instagram.
If confirmed, this marks the second protest in less than four days in the same area.
The initial demonstration occurred on the night of October 9 and was shared on social media by rapper and activist El Funky.
“The frustration over constant power outages has hit its peak: food spoiling, children unable to sleep, and families at their wit's end,” the activist noted when posting images of the nighttime protest in a local square.
Regarding the second demonstration, NiO Reportando Un Crimen clarified that the information was based on a testimonial from the area and that the news was still developing at the time of publication. No other media outlets had yet reported this second incident, so the information should be approached cautiously.
According to this source, residents took to the streets “demanding better living conditions and what they consider their rights,” describing Cabañas as “a traditionally peaceful town” whose pent-up dissatisfaction has led to these protests. At the close of the report, there was no confirmed information about police intervention or arrests.
Both protests occur amid a severe electrical crisis.
On October 9, the national power company predicted an availability of only 1,250 MW against a demand of 2,900 MW, covering just 43% of the nation's needs. By October 13, the national electrical system had a deficit of 1,286 MW at six in the morning, with just 1,058 MW available.
Artemisa has a recent history of protests related to power outages. In July, residents of El Henequén, also in Mariel, took to the streets after more than four consecutive days without electricity.
In June, a protest in Toledo escalated into a tense standoff with police, who withdrew after the crowd reacted to the detention of a young man.
The situation in the province shows no signs of improvement in the short term. In September, Artemisa's Electric Company admitted that, even with maximum utilization of its solar parks, the province couldn't reduce the deficit below 18-hour daily blackouts.
Nationally, Cubalex documented 766 protests in 141 municipalities during the first half of 2026, with a 48% rise in human rights violations compared to the previous semester. In September, although protests dropped to 35, repressive events climbed to 298, exceeding the 280 recorded in August.
NiO Reportando Un Crimen stated it would remain vigilant for further updates from Cabañas.
Understanding the Power Outage Crisis in Cabañas
What triggered the recent protests in Cabañas?
The recent protests in Cabañas were sparked by widespread frustration over continuous power outages, which have led to spoiled food, disrupted sleep for children, and general dissatisfaction among families.
How severe is the electrical crisis in Artemisa?
The electrical crisis in Artemisa is critical, with the province experiencing extended power outages. The local electric company has indicated that, even with optimal use of solar parks, reducing the power deficit below 18 hours of daily outages is not feasible.
What has been the response of the authorities to these protests?
As of the latest reports, there has been no confirmed police intervention or arrests related to the protests in Cabañas, though the situation is still evolving.