Civil unrest over utility shortages in Havana

In late July 2026, residents of the El Fanguito neighborhood in Havana staged a blockade on Avenida 23 to demand the restoration of electricity, water, and gas services following a 24-hour outage. While the blockade led to immediate repairs by utility workers, State Security officers later detained two mothers at a local police station. During these arrests, security agents reportedly warned residents that anyone publishing images of the detentions could be “identified and prosecuted.”

By mid-August, similar unrest emerged in the Guanabacoa municipality. Protesters, primarily women and mothers, demonstrated at government headquarters to demand electricity, water, and food due to power outages exceeding 40 hours. These blackouts caused secondary issues, including a lack of potable water and food spoilage. In response, authorities deployed police and special units to disperse crowds, resulting in at least two reported detentions. In some instances, residents blocked utility workers from removing transformers to prevent further service interruptions.