"One in Four Cubans Skipping Dinner" Discontent Erupts Amid Food Shortages and Inflation in Cuba

1,133 Anti-Government Protests and Expressions of Discontent Recorded in Cuba in April

176 Cases of Repression, Including Arbitrary Arrests and Interrogations

Tensions Escalate as Trump Ramps Up Sanctions and Pressure

An analysis has found that during April, Cuba, which is suffering from power shortages and inflation, saw a total of 1,133 instances of anti-government protests and expressions of discontent.

On the 1st, International Workers' Day, Cuban citizens gathered for a rally. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to Yonhap News on May 5 (local time), quoting the Spanish-language media outlet Infobae, the monthly report from the Cuban Conflict Observatory (OCC) counted a total of 1,133 cases of protests and public expressions of dissatisfaction with the regime across Cuba last month. This figure includes not only street demonstrations but also critical posts on social networking services (SNS) and reports to the authorities. The OCC is a non-governmental organization (NGO) supported by the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC), a nonprofit based in Florida, United States.

By type, resistance against the regime accounted for the largest share with 305 cases (26.9%). Complaints regarding public safety and violent incidents followed with 185 cases. Only last month, there were 41 deaths due to violent crimes and 21 cases of robbery, indicating a deterioration in public safety. Discontent over public services such as power and water outages was recorded in 153 cases, while 130 cases cited food shortages and inflation.

The OCC analyzed that political repression also increased throughout April, as the Cuban regime’s fears of possible U.S. military action intensified. There were 176 cases of repression, including arbitrary arrests and interrogations.

Last March, the capital of Cuba, Havana, experienced a blackout. Photo by AP Yonhap News

According to the survey, due to the effects of food shortages and inflation, one out of four Cubans is going to bed without dinner. In addition, Cuba’s power crisis has worsened further this year. Blackouts lasting from several hours to more than a full day have become routine, and in March alone, there were three nationwide power grid collapses. Currently, Cuba produces only about 40% of its required fuel domestically, and with the United States tightening energy sanctions, the supply of foreign crude oil has plummeted, further constraining power generation.

The direct background to Cuba’s power crisis lies in the Trump Administration’s hardline pressure. Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump had completely blocked the supply of Venezuelan crude oil and even announced a second round of sanctions, warning that tariffs would be imposed on all countries trading oil with Cuba.

On May 1, President Trump again ramped up the pressure, stating, “Our military could occupy Cuba almost immediately.” He also announced additional sanctions against Cuba, targeting individuals involved in key sectors such as energy, defense, and finance, and allowing penalties to be imposed on foreign financial institutions doing business with them. Cuban government officials deemed to be involved in human rights violations or corruption were also banned from entering the United States.

In response, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel declared on his X (formerly Twitter) account that President Trump’s remarks constituted a grave criminal act, stating, “The U.S. President is raising the threat of military attack against Cuba to a dangerous and unprecedented level,” and adding, “No powerful aggressor will ever force Cuba to surrender.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.