In a rare display of public dissent, Cuban protesters ransacked and set fire to a Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) office in Morón overnight Saturday, expressing frustration over prolonged blackouts and soaring food prices.

Five arrested after vandalism

The Interior Ministry (MININT) confirmed five people were arrested after a small group vandalized PCC offices in the central city of Morón. Protesters stoned the building entrance and started a fire in the street using furniture from the reception area.

“Specialized forces are investigating the acts of vandalism,” MININT stated in an official release.

Energy crisis fuels popular discontent

The incident reflects growing popular unrest amid an unprecedented energy crisis. Cuba suffers blackouts lasting up to 15 hours daily, worsened by Trump’s oil blockade imposed after capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January.

Footage circulating on social media shows rocks being hurled through windows as people shouted “liberty,” with a large bonfire burning in the street center.

Impact on essential services

The energy crisis has collapsed basic services:

Garbage collection disrupted
Hospital emergency wards affected
Public transportation reduced
Education system with suspended classes

Díaz-Canel acknowledges legitimate grievances

President Miguel Díaz-Canel posted on X that while protesters’ complaints and demands were “legitimate,” he would not tolerate “violence and vandalism that threatens citizen tranquility.”

Díaz-Canel blamed prolonged blackouts on the US blockade, characterizing it as “cruelly intensified in recent months.”

Trump escalates regime change pressure

The protests occurred as Donald Trump accelerates his campaign for leadership change in Cuba. The US president declared Monday that Cuba is in “deep trouble” and threatened a “friendly takeover” of the island.

“Cuba will be next,” Trump had previously said, referring to Maduro’s overthrow in Venezuela.

Devastating oil blockade

Since January, the United States has:

Blocked Venezuelan oil shipments (50% of Cuban supply)
Threatened tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba
Maintained the six-decade trade embargo

Parallel dialogue with Washington

Paradoxically, the protests occurred hours after Havana confirmed ongoing talks with the US to “seek solutions through dialogue” to differences between both countries.

Troubling precedent for regime

Public dissent is extremely rare in Cuba. While the 2019 constitution grants citizens the right to demonstrate, a law defining the scope of that right is currently stalled in the legislature.

The Morón incidents followed student protests last week at the University of Havana over educational disruptions caused by the energy crisis.

Other facilities targeted

Protesters also directed their anger at:

A state-run pharmacy
A government-operated market
Various local government offices

Impact on Cuban emigration

This escalation of internal tensions reinforces asylum cases for the 300,000 Cubans in legal limbo in the United States, who face record deportations under Trump.

The energy crisis and documented social unrest provide additional evidence of persecution and unsustainable conditions on the island.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Cubans protest in Morón? Demonstrators expressed frustration over blackouts lasting up to 15 hours daily, high food prices, and shortages of fuel, medicine, and basic products.

How many people were arrested? Five people were arrested for vandalism, according to Cuba’s Interior Ministry.

What caused Cuba’s energy crisis? Trump’s oil blockade after overthrowing Maduro eliminated 50% of Cuba’s energy supply. The US also threatens tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba.

Are protests common in Cuba? No. Public dissent is extremely rare. While the constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate, specific laws are stalled in the legislature.

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