Santiago, Cuba witnessed an unusual public display on Sunday (March 17), with hundreds taking to the streets. Subsequently, other metropolitan areas followed suit. Presently, the nation is struggling with its most severe financial decline in thirty years. Users on social media are indicating heightened scarcities of food and power interruptions that last up to 18 hours each day, which sparked the uprisings.
In response to the uprisings, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recognized the complaints regarding electricity and food supply. He reassured the dedication of officials from various sectors to tackle citizen grievances, engage in dialogues, and underline the ongoing initiatives to improve the circumstances, urging for a composed and peaceful reaction.
Nevertheless, Díaz-Canel promptly attributed the circumstances to U.S. sanctions, a statement challenged by critics of the government who point to mismanagement. While sanctions are not a recent occurrence, the conditions on the island have significantly deteriorated in recent decades, further exacerbated by the repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The President also expressed concerns about potential U.S.-linked “terrorists” attempting to provoke further disruptions. He cautioned that these situations might be manipulated by adversaries of the Revolution to incite instability, as stated by Diaz-Canel.
Information from social media indicates that police were deployed to Santiago, but it remains unclear if any arrests were made. What is apparent is the determination of the people as hundreds marched the streets, even during the night, to express their discontent with the circumstances in Cuba.
Protests in Cuba are sporadic but have been growing more frequent recently due to the escalating economic crisis. In 2021, a wave of dissenting demonstrations shook the area. The government reacted by cracking down harshly on protestors, leading to numerous detentions. At present, with the economic turmoil intensifying, protests are resurfacing once again.
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