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Protesters vandalize Communist Party building in Cuba
Demonstrators in the central Cuban city of Morón ransacked a Communist Party office overnight, marking a rare public display of dissent amid worsening economic conditions and power shortages, authorities said.
Arrests and government response
Five individuals were detained following the incident, according to Cuba's Interior Ministry (Minint). While President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the protesters' grievances as "legitimate," he condemned the violence, stating that such actions "threaten citizen tranquility."
In a post on X, Díaz-Canel attributed the unrest to "distress" caused by prolonged blackouts, blaming the U.S. blockade for exacerbating the crisis. He claimed no fuel had entered Cuba in three months due to the embargo.
Economic crisis fuels discontent
Cuba's economy has been crippled by rolling blackouts, food shortages, and a lack of essential supplies, worsened by a decades-long U.S. trade embargo. The island relies heavily on imported fuel for electricity, and recent restrictions on Venezuelan oil shipments-previously a key energy source-have deepened the crisis.
U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his opposition to Cuba's government, calling the country's situation "deep trouble" and hinting at further pressure. The U.S. has blocked oil shipments to Cuba and threatened sanctions on nations supplying the island.
Protests escalate amid power cuts
What began as a peaceful rally over rising food prices and power outages turned violent, according to state-run newspaper Invasor. Protesters hurled rocks at the Communist Party building, set fire to furniture, and targeted other government facilities, including a pharmacy and a state-run market.
Social media footage showed crowds chanting "liberty" as flames engulfed the street. Minint described the incident as "acts of vandalism" and said specialized forces were investigating.
Public dissent remains rare
Public protests are uncommon in Cuba, where the 2019 constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate but lacks implementing legislation. Recent weeks have seen scattered acts of resistance, including nighttime pot-banging protests and student rallies at the University of Havana over disrupted education.
The capital has been particularly hard-hit, with blackouts lasting up to 15 hours daily. Despite ongoing U.S.-Cuba talks aimed at resolving differences, tensions show no signs of easing.
