Cuban exile military group calls on armed forces to oust Castro family

The Cuban Military Objectors of Conscience, an exile organization led by General Rafael del Pino, issued a public communiqué on the fifth anniversary of the July 11, 2021 protests. The statement urged the Cuban Armed Forces to remove the Castro family from power, describing the regime as “a mafioso state controlled by a kleptocratic oligarchy” and accusing the military of serving as a “private mercenary army.” It referenced recent remarks by Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as “El Cangrejo,” and called for the military to assume authority alongside the people. The movement’s message concluded: “Saquen a esa familia del trono al que pretenden atornillar a sus descendientes.”

The communiqué coincided with sociologist Cecilia Bobes’ analysis of an unprecedented rise in Cuban protests during 2026, noting over 300 demonstrations, including university marches against telecom price hikes and a violent protest in Morón. Bobes highlighted growing political slogans and increased use of mobile internet as catalysts for dissent, though she cautioned that a large‑scale uprising remains uncertain due to repression and emigration.