On July 8, 2026, residents across Cuba protested against the latest nationwide power cut, the third this year. Anger erupted as locals banged pots and set rubbish on fire in various locations, expressing their frustration over the persistent electricity outages. These disruptions were fueled by significant fuel shortages exacerbated by U.S. sanctions and an effective oil blockade.
Causes of the Power Outages in Cuba
The recent outages are partly due to tight U.S. sanctions and an oil blockade that limits fuel availability for generators. Although Cuban officials reported that most areas regained power, some regions remained in darkness, prompting shouts of "turn on the lights!" from frustrated citizens.
According to reports, rural areas can experience outages lasting up to 70 hours, while urban areas may face planned electricity cuts of up to 30 hours. The state electricity company has not disclosed the cause of the latest unplanned power cut, leaving many residents in the dark.
Government Response to Protests
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the rising discontent among the populace, stating, "There are shortages of transport, food, medicines, there are lengthy power cuts lasting more than 20 hours, that causes dissatisfaction, nobody can be happy, the people are suffering." He urged citizens to direct their frustration towards the U.S. government, claiming, "People bang pots, some with more anger than others. I say: direct your pot-banging towards our northern neighbours, who are the ones behind these power cuts."
