Pots and pans protest began to be reported on the night of this Friday in various areas of Cuba, especially in Havana and in the municipality of Jagüey Grande, in the province of Matanzas, amid prolonged blackouts affecting a large part of the country.
Videos circulated on social media show neighbors banging pots from their homes or on the streets, while shouts of protest can be heard amidst the darkness caused by power outages. In some recordings, slogans like “freedom” and expressions of discontent towards the government can be heard.
The journalist Mario Pentón reported on a protest in Jagüey Grande after several days without electricity. As he explained on social media, he verified the information through a video call with residents of the municipality of Matanzas.
Simultaneously, users and pages on social media reported protests involving pots and pans in various neighborhoods of Havana. Among the locations mentioned is the Jesús María area in the Habana Vieja municipality, where residents reportedly came out to demonstrate amid the blackout.
The protests occur just a few days after the recent near total collapse of the National Electric System (SEN) last Wednesday, an event that left much of the country without electricity and necessitated the initiation of a complex process to restore the service.
According to reports, the disconnection of a major generating unit (the Guiteras thermoelectric plant, the largest in the country) triggered a chain reaction that destabilized the national electricity grid, resulting in a large-scale blackout. Although service was gradually restored, the system continues to operate at a high deficit.
In recent days, the generation shortfall has been around or above 2,000 megawatts, necessitating extended blackouts across much of the territory.
In numerous provinces, power outages can exceed 20 hours a day, reaching several days in some areas, according to official reports and citizen testimonies. This situation affects not only households but also the water supply, transportation, and food preservation.
Energy crisis, political pressure, and calls to protest
The electricity crisis is due to a combination of structural factors. Notably among these are the breakdowns in aging thermoelectric power plants, the lack of maintenance in the generation system, and the shortage of fuel to operate the power plants.
In the past year, moreover, oil imports to Cuba have experienced a significant decline, which limits the electrical system's ability to meet national demand.
This situation is compounded by the energy pressure exerted by the United States on the countries and companies that supply fuel to the Cuban regime, following Nicolás Maduro's capture on January 3 and the subsequent takeover of the functioning of the Venezuelan government.
On January 29, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring the Cuban government an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the national security of the United States, a measure that enables economic sanctions aimed at restricting the supply of oil to the island.
At the same time, Cuban-American congress members and exiled activists have insisted that increased internal and external pressure could accelerate political changes in Cuba.
Legislators such as María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez have pointed out on various occasions that the regime is experiencing one of its weakest moments and have urged to increase political and economic pressure against the government of Havana.
In that context, some activists and sectors of the exile community have encouraged Cubans on the island to express themselves as a way to pressure for a political transition, push for reforms, or accelerate a possible collapse of the regime.
Protests over blackouts, shortages, and declining living conditions have recurred at various times in recent years, reflecting the growing social discontent within the country.
So far, the authorities of the Cuban totalitarian regime have not made any public statements regarding the reports of protests involving pots and pans that were recorded on the night of this past Friday in various areas of the country.
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