Communist Cuba Cracks Down on “Public Disorder” Amid Recovery from Hurricane Rafael

Power Outages and Protests Worsen in the Wake of Devastating Hurricane

As Cuba, a communist state and dictatorship for approximately 65 years, grapples with widespread blackouts and destruction following Hurricane Rafael, authorities issued a stern warning late Saturday, vowing zero tolerance for “public disorder.” Four days after Rafael tore through western Cuba, emergency workers continue clearing debris and restoring power, with large swaths of the country, including entire provinces, left in darkness. The hurricane felled hundreds of transmission lines and utility poles, sparking rare public protests amid the outages affecting Cuba’s 10 million citizens.

Authorities Detain Citizens Amid Tension

Cuban officials confirmed preventive detentions of individuals in Havana, Mayabeque, and Ciego de Ávila, charging them with “assault, public disorder, and vandalism.” The country’s top prosecutor emphasized that these incidents starkly contrast with the collective efforts to rebuild after the storm, describing the alleged acts as undermining “order, discipline, and respect for authorities.” While details on the arrests remain limited, officials clarified that maintaining control is crucial as recovery operations continue.

Partial Restoration of Power and Lingering Blackouts

While Cuba’s grid operator reported that more than 85% of Havana had regained power by Sunday morning, isolated pot-banging protests—a traditional form of dissent—highlighted lingering frustrations. Power outages remain critical in the provinces of Artemisa and Pinar del Río, which bore the brunt of Rafael’s impact and largely remain without electricity. Rolling blackouts are expected to persist, worsened by Cuba’s outdated, oil-dependent energy infrastructure, which struggles to meet even basic demand.

Rights to Protest in a Tense Environment

Although Cuba’s 2019 constitution allows the right to protest, a delayed law defining this right has left protestors in legal limbo. This legislative delay, coupled with chronic shortages of essentials like food, fuel, and medicine, has contributed to growing discontent in the communist state, where protests are historically rare. As blackouts and shortages worsen, isolated protests have become more frequent in recent years.

International Response and Calls for Reform

The international community, including rights groups, the European Union, and the United States, has criticized the Cuban dictatorship’s response to public demonstrations, urging more transparency and restraint. Tensions surrounding the July 11, 2021 protests—the largest since the 1959 revolution—have resurfaced amid current crises. As Cuba progresses in its recovery, the government’s approach to managing public unrest and addressing citizens’ grievances remains under close international scrutiny.