Cuba Erupts After U.S. Move Against Raúl Castro | Cubans Reject Indictment Push

Added: 2026-05-20

[00:00:00]is facing a growing crisis, and anger is now spilling onto the streets.

[00:00:05]Residents across Havana took to the streets this week to protest massive power outages that have left large parts of the Cuban capital without electricity for up to 20 hours a day.

[00:00:16]And in some neighborhoods, even longer.

[00:00:19]The demonstrations come as Cuba's energy grid edges closer to collapse, with officials admitting the country has completely run out of diesel and fuel oil.

[00:00:29]Two key resources needed to keep the island's aging power plants running. For many Cubans, the blackouts are no longer just an inconvenience, they are becoming unbearable.

[00:00:40]Families say food stored in refrigerators is spoiling. Fans and air conditioners no longer work in the intense Caribbean heat, and sleep has become nearly impossible during long nights without electricity.

[00:00:53]Children and elderly residents have been among those hardest hit by the outages, especially as temperatures continue to rise heading into summer.

[00:01:02]Protests erupted in several neighborhoods across Havana.

[00:01:06]Crowds gathered in the streets banging pots and pans, chanting for electricity, and blocking roads with burning piles of garbage.

[00:01:14]Reuters reporters described it as the largest wave of demonstrations in the Cuban capital since the current energy crisis escalated earlier this year.

[00:01:25]While many protests remained peaceful, tensions were visible as police officers moved into affected areas to disperse the protesters and restore energy and maintain certain absolutely absolutely They described the national critical >> in a critical state of supply.

[00:02:00]that supply fuel to the island.

[00:02:02]Officials say the crisis sharply worsened after US President Donald Trump threatened tariffs earlier this year on nations exporting fuel to Venezuela and Mexico, previously among Cuba's biggest oil suppliers, reportedly reduced or stopped shipments to the island.

[00:02:19]The impact is now being felt across nearly every aspect of daily life.

[00:02:24]Hospitals, public transportation, schools, businesses, and food suppliers.

[00:02:34]All all is nothing is working.

[00:02:38]You mean in darkness.

[00:02:39]>> [music] >> in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness in darkness The protests also highlight growing frustration among ordinary Cubans who are already dealing with shortages of food, medicine, fuel, and basic necessities.

[00:03:10]Many residents say the blackouts have become the breaking point. One Havana resident told Reuters that people are exhausted and increasingly hopeless about the future as conditions continue to deteriorate.

[00:03:23]Despite the unrest, Cuba's government insists it is working to secure emergency fuel supplies and stabilize the electrical grid.

[00:03:32]But with summer heat intensifying and no immediate solution in sight, authorities now face mounting