Protests in Morón, Ciego de Ávila: pot-banging and unrest shake the municipality

March 14, 2026

On the night of Thursday, March 13, 2026, dozens of residents of Morón, in the province of Ciego de Ávila, took to the streets to express their discontent with the prolonged energy crisis, fuel shortages, and difficulties in accessing food and essential goods.

The protesters moved through several areas of the municipality banging pots and chanting slogans. According to videos that briefly circulated on social media before internet service was interrupted in the area, groups of people headed toward the headquarters of the Communist Party of the municipality, where damage to the building and burning of furniture in public areas were reported.

Cuban authorities reported five detentions as a result of the incidents and described the events as acts of vandalism carried out by a small group. Official provincial media downplayed the events and stated that the situation was quickly brought under control.

During the unrest, a young man was also reported injured in the thigh. The accounts of the circumstances of the injury are contradictory: while local witnesses claimed it was caused by a gunshot, provincial official press indicated it was a fall.

Internet access in Morón was interrupted for several hours, which significantly limited the spread of images and videos in real time from the scene.

Morón, historically known as "The City of the Rooster," is the second largest municipality in Ciego de Ávila. Like much of the country, the city has been affected by blackouts of up to twenty hours daily, fuel shortages, and widespread difficulties in accessing essential goods.