The fuel crisis in Cuba has worsened during the spring after US President Donald Trump tightened sanctions against Cuba and threatened tariffs on countries that export fuel to the island, according to multiple reports. The Cuban government stated that the tightened sanctions have made it significantly more difficult to import oil, leading to severe shortages that have crippled the nation's energy infrastructure. The resulting power outages have left many Cubans without electricity for extended periods, exacerbating daily hardships and fueling public discontent.
On Wednesday evening, hundreds of people gathered in several neighborhoods of Havana to protest the long power outages caused by the fuel shortage. ', according to SVT Nyheter. Reuters reported that these are the largest protests in the capital since the energy crisis worsened earlier this year, highlighting the growing frustration among residents who have endured months of unreliable power supply.
Turn on the electricity!
Large protests have broken out in several cities in Cuba, with thousands demonstrating in the streets of Havana and Santiago. The protests are driven by frustration over months of COVID-19 restrictions and what demonstrators say is government neglect, according to demonstrators. In a separate demonstration, hundreds of women gathered on April 7 at Mariana Grajales Park in Vedado, Havana, to commemorate the anniversary of Cuban revolutionary Vilma Espín and to condemn the US blockade.
In her main speech, Teresa Amarelle Boué, general secretary of the Cuban Women's Federation (FMC), emphasized the women's unwavering stance, according to reports. The United Nations has criticized the US blockade, stating it affects Cubans' access to food, healthcare, and electricity.