Demonstrations in Cuba: 5 minutes to understand an economic and political crisis

An event that specialists in the region would not have thought possible a year and a half ago.

In Cuba, protest rallies, led by young people, were held across the country over the weekend.

It is a rare fact, whereas the only authorized demonstrations are those organized by the Communist Party, and which could lead to a breaking point.

What happened on Sunday?

On Sunday, thousands of Cubans demonstrated across the country. In Havana and San Antonio de los Baños in particular, they launched cries like “Freedom”, “Down with the dictatorship”, or “Let them go! ". These movements were relayed on social networks under the hashtags #SOSCUBA or #SOSMatanzas. Social networks have played an important role in opposing the government since internet access was expanded in 2018 on the island.

In response, 3G was cut off for much of the afternoon, and at least ten people were arrested.

In a televised address, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel encouraged his supporters to fight the demonstrators: “We call on all revolutionaries in the country, all communists, to go out into the streets where these provocations will take place, now and the next few days.

And to face them in a determined, firm and courageous manner ”.

Clashes broke out Sunday between demonstrators and police, and Monday, the streets remained crisscrossed by the police.

JUST IN - Mass protests erupt in several cities in #Cuba over the poor state of the socialized medical system.

Protesters demand freedom from communist dictatorship.pic.twitter.com/NOSdVgP0By

- Disclose.tv 🚨 (@disclosetv) July 11, 2021

Why are these Cubans protesting?

At the origin of this movement: an economic crisis aggravated by the pandemic.

Cuba was already extremely dependent on foreign trade: the country usually imports more than 70% of its food needs.

But these commodities are scarce, since the government is struggling to replenish the state coffers.

Two of the island's strong economic sectors have been hit hard this year: sugar exports and tourism.

"Cuba was built as a mono producer (of sugar cane), and they have not succeeded in changing that", decrypts Janice Argaillot, lecturer in Latin American civilization at the University of Grenoble Alpes.

However, the sugar harvest has been very poor this year, representing only 66% of what was expected.

It is, according to the president of the state sugar group Azcuba, one of the worst harvests in Cuban history.

As for tourism, the Covid-19 pandemic has come to put a stop to

this key sector of the Cuban economy.

Read also VIDEO.

"Freedom": Cubans demonstrate against the regime amid economic crisis

This is what led the country to the events of Sunday: "A popular mobilization of hungry people," argues Janice Argaillot. “Cubans are tired. They sometimes line up for 6 hours in front of state stores selling food only to hear that they are gone. The meal is no longer a convivial moment for them, they quickly eat what they can find, ”she says. For this specialist in issues related to Cuba, the message that young people want to convey in the demonstrations is that they are tired of acting for the revolution if it does nothing for them.

The Cuban president admitted Sunday that the economic situation was difficult in the country, but attributed all the responsibility to the embargo put in place by the United States since 1962. This "blockade" as the Cubans call it, does not relates more to foodstuffs, but remains applied to certain sectors, such as health.

According to Janice Argaillot, however, not all economic difficulties come from the embargo.

At most, it would be an aggravating factor for problems already present.

Why is the Cuban government accusing the United States?

The Cuban government believes Sunday's protests were orchestrated by the United States.

"There is a group of people, counterrevolutionaries, mercenaries, paid by the US government, indirectly through US government agencies, to organize these kinds of demonstrations," Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said at the meeting. of a televised speech on Sunday.

To read also CHRONOLOGY.

United States - Cuba: a century of conflicting relations

Relations between Cuba and the United States, very tense since 1962, deteriorated during Donald Trump's tenure.

The former President of the United States, among other things, introduced new restrictions on travel and sending money to Cuba, and put the country back on the list of "states supporting terrorism".

Janice Argaillot explains that it has always been in the political line of the Cuban government to accuse the United States of all evils, but that "it is no longer a good strategy, they are only doing this to avoid being self-critical. .

This annoys young people, the Cuban government has a real communication problem ”.

The reaction of the United States was swift: on Twitter, Julie Chung, Assistant Secretary of State of the United States for the Americas, and Jake Sullivan, security adviser to Joe Biden, condemned any violence against the demonstrators.

The US supports freedom of expression and assembly across Cuba, and would strongly condemn any violence or targeting of peaceful protesters who are exercising their universal rights.

https://t.co/FjI8bUHoQE

- Jake Sullivan (@ JakeSullivan46) July 12, 2021

The Cuban government responded to these statements on Twitter as well, via the account of Bruno Rodriguez, the Minister of Foreign Affairs: “The White House national security adviser has no political or moral authority to speak about Cuba.

His government has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to promote subversion in our country and is implementing a genocidal embargo, which is the main cause of economic shortages, ”it wrote.

On Monday, it was US President Joe Biden who, in a statement, called on the "Cuban regime to listen to its people and meet their needs", while Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel reiterated his accusations against screws from the United States.