March 2024 Cuban protests

2024–2026 Cuban protests
Date17 March 2024 (2024-03-17) – 3 January 2026 (2026-01-03) (Round 1)
6 February 2026 (2026-02-06) – present (Round 2)
Major protests:
17 March 2024 (2024-03-17) – 18 March 2024 (2024-03-18)
18 October 2024 (2024-10-18) – 22 October 2024 (2024-10-22)
Location
Cuba
Caused by
  • Food shortage
  • Power outages
  • Inflation
  • Censorship and internet censorship
Goals
  • Access to food and electric power
StatusFailed for the first round of protests, but still ongoing for the second round
Parties

Opposition groups

  • Anti-government protesters
Lead figures
Casualties
Arrested3

On 17 March 2024, protests began in Cuba, primarily in Santiago de Cuba, the country's second largest city, in protest of food shortages and power outages.

The country experienced what was described as the worst living crisis since the early 1990s. The government blames the U.S. embargo, which it refers to as a "blockade", imposed since 1962 during the early years of the revolutionary regime to power but intensified in 2021 with Cuba's addition to the State Sponsors of Terrorism list. Cuba accused the U.S. of stirring up unrest, an accusation the United States has denied.