Five Years After July 11: Repression Deepens as Cuba Faces Its Worst Crisis in Decades

Jul 15

Written By CEDA The Center for Engagement and Advocacy in the Americas

Saturday marked the fifth anniversary of the historic July 11, 2021, protests, when thousands of Cubans took to the streets in the largest anti-government demonstrations since the 1959 revolution. Beginning in San Antonio de los Baños and quickly spreading to roughly 62 locations across the island, demonstrators protested severe economic hardship, shortages of food and medicine, the government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the lack of political freedoms. Cuba’s government responded with a sweeping crackdown. Authorities arrested 1,584 people, used force against demonstrators, and temporarily shut down internet access to limit the spread of information. While officials initially acknowledged some responsibility for the economic conditions that fueled the unrest, the government has continued to characterize the protests as foreign-backed interference and has systematically targeted protesters, activists, journalists, and their supporters.

Five years later, the legacy of July 11 remains visible in Cuba's prisons. According to Justicia 11J, 337 prisoners of conscience remain incarcerated for their participation in the 2021 demonstrations, representing a large share of the organization's 823 documented political prisoners. Human rights organizations continue to report that detainees face beatings, denial of medical care, threats, and other forms of abuse while in custody.

The anniversary prompted renewed international calls for the release of political prisoners. The US and numerous human rights organizations issued statements urging their immediate freedom. Cuban exile communities, including demonstrators in Miami, commemorated the anniversary with renewed calls for democratic change on the island.

One of the most prominent figures associated with the protests, artist and dissident Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, co-founder of the San Isidro Movement, remains emblematic of the government's repression. After announcing on social media that he would join the July 2021 demonstrations, he was arrested and later sentenced to five years in prison. On July 7, 2026, just days before completing his sentence, he was repo rtedly remove d from prison, and his whereabouts remain unknown. A friend and activist who spoke with him by phone alleged that Cuban authorities transferred him to an undisclosed location while he awaits authorization to travel to the US.

Today, conditions in Cuba are even more severe than they were in 2021. The island continues to grapple with an unprecedented economic collapse, widespread shortages, and an increasingly fragile electrical grid. Over the past week alone, Cuba experienced two nationwide blackouts, underscoring the effects of the months-long U.S. oil blockade and the country's deepening infrastructure crisis.

Political repression has intensified. Many of the most recognizable opposition leaders have been imprisoned, forced into exile, or otherwise silenced. Yet despite the risks, public demonstrations have continued and have recently intensified. Since the U.S. oil blockade began in January 2026, and as Cuba's broader socioeconomic crisis has continued to deteriorate, roughly 300 protest events have been recorded across Cuba, surpassing the total for any full year since 2018. As Cuban journalist Carla Gloria Colomé puts it, “Since July 11, Cuba has never been silent.”

One mother of a political prisoner reflected on the anniversary: “Cuba is not Cuba... After July 11th, I constantly live with the feeling that my life stopped. In the last five years, Cuba has started to deteriorate even more; we are running out of a country. I have the feeling that we are adrift, that no one is governing us, that we are alone, trying to wake up alive.”

U.S.-CUBA NEWS

US Imposes Sanctions on 10 Additional Cuban Entities

On July 13, the US further expanded sanctions against 10 Cuban entities, targeting organizations tied to the military, foreign trade, fuel supply, and tourism that the US alleges generate revenue for Cuba’s government. The new designations are being implemented under President Donald Trump's May 1 executive order.

The newly designated entities are the Milicias de Tropas Territoriales (MTT), Association of Combatants of the Cuban Revolution (ACRC), Corporación Antillana Exportadora (ANTEX S.A.), Rapid Response Brigades, Enetec S.A., Coreydan S.A., Grupo Empresarial de Comercio Exterior (GECOMEX), Organización Superior de Dirección Empresarial Caudal S.A. (CAUDAL), Grupo Empresarial de Transporte Marítimo Portuario (GEMAR), and the Ministry of Tourism of Cuba (MINTUR).

Designating MINTUR could significantly affect Cuba's already struggling tourism sector. Travel companies facilitating trips to Cuba will need to ensure they are not conducting business with government-linked entities, and organizations involved in travel to the island are likely to face heightened scrutiny from the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The addition of Coreydan, Enetec S.A., and GECOMEX targets key components of Cuba's fuel supply chain, as the first two operate as fuel wholesalers and GECOMEX serves as a state-owned importer and retailer.

With this latest round of sanctions, the total number of designated Cuban entities has risen to 36 following three previous rounds of designations. These sanctions prohibit the listed entities from engaging with the U.S. financial system and freeze any assets under U.S. jurisdiction. In addition, foreign companies that knowingly conduct certain transactions with sanctioned entities could face secondary sanctions. However, under the longstanding Cuban Assets Control Regulations, through August 12, the US will not impose sanctions on non-U.S. persons, including foreign financial institutions (FFIs), for transactions involving GECOMEX or GEMAR, allowing time to wind down existing business with the two entities.

Four Democratic Members of Congress Visit Cuba

From July 9–13, four Democratic members of Congress traveled to Cuba on an official delegation, where they met with President Miguel Díaz-Canel as well as civil society representatives, religious leaders, entrepreneurs, journalists, farmers, and other Cubans. The delegation included Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Teresa Leger-Fernández (NM-03), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), and Delia Ramírez (IL-03).

Following the visit, Rep. Ramírez said that many Cubans told the delegation they felt they were being forced to emigrate due to conditions on the island. Rep. Pocan recounted that one person described Cuba's current situation as a “silent Gaza.” After returning, the lawmakers called for legislation to ease U.S. sanctions on Cuba, mitigate their humanitarian impact, and prevent further unilateral military action by the Trump administration without congressional authorization.

The visit comes just months after Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Jonathan Jackson (IL-01) traveled to Cubain April. During that trip, they met with President Díaz-Canel, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, members of Cuba's National Assembly, and a broad range of Cuban voices and subsequently called for an end to the U.S. fuel blockade on the island.

Former Employee of Sanctioned Cuban Organization Detained by U.S. Authorities

During the week of June 29, U.S. federal authorities detained Cuban national Carlos Antonio Lloga Domínguez, along with his wife and son, following the termination of their legal status. According to the U.S. Department of State, the family is in federal custody pending removal proceedings.

In its statement, the State Department alleged that Lloga Domínguez spent more than a decade working for the Cuban Institute of Friendship with the Peoples (or ICAP by its Spanish acronym), an organization the Trump administration sanctioned in June. U.S. officials described ICAP as a key component of Cuba's international influence network and alleged that Lloga Domínguez maintained ties to the organization after relocating to the US. No criminal charges have been announced against Lloga Domínguez and the reported action concerns his immigration status rather than a criminal prosecution.

Relatives of Lloga Domínguez have disputed the U.S. government's allegations. Speaking anonymously to CiberCuba, a family member said he worked in Cuba's cultural sector and denied that he was a member of the Communist Party or part of Cuba’s political leadership.

The detention is the first publicly reported immigration enforcement action against an individual linked to ICAP since the organization was sanctioned by the Trump administration. It comes amid a broader expansion of U.S. actions targeting Cuba’s government officials and state-affiliated entities. In recent months, ICE has also detained relatives of senior Cuban officials, including Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, executive president of Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), whose lawful permanent resident status was revoked on May 20 and who remains in ICE custody. ICE has also arrested Alina Rosales Aguirreurreta, the daughter of Cuban General Ulises Rosales del Toro, in Florida.

Antilles Gold Proposes Divestment to U.S. Investor to Avoid Cuba Sanctions

Australian mining company Antilles Gold Ltd. has proposed transferring a controlling interest inits Cuban joint venture to a U.S. investor in an effort to address sanctions-related challenges and allow operations to resume. The company, which holds a 50 percent stake in Minera La Victoria S.A. alongside Cuba’s state-owned GeoMinera S.A., is developing the Nueva Sabana gold and copper project. However, operations were suspended after the US sanctioned GeoMinera in June. According to Bloomberg, Antilles Chairman Brian Johnson submitted a proposal to the U.S. Department of State to transfer control of the venture to an “acceptable U.S. investor or investors,” a move that would require approval from U.S. authorities, Antilles shareholders, and Cuban regulators.

The proposal follows a similar effort by Canadian mining company Sherritt International, which in May reversed plans to dissolve its nickel and cobalt joint venture with Cuba after receiving a potential value-preserving investment opportunity from U.S.-based Gillon Capital, LLC. If finalized, Gillon’s proposed acquisition could grant it majority control of Sherritt. The developments reflect growing efforts by foreign companies operating in Cuba to restructure ownership arrangements in response to expanded U.S. sanctions targeting Cuban state-linked entities.

U.S. Coast Guard Repatriates 27 Cuban Migrants

On June 25, the U.S. Coast Guard intercepted a makeshift vessel carrying 27 people in the Yucatán Channel between Cuba and Mexico. The vessel began taking on water and had no food or drinking water onboard. After the rescue, with authorities transferring them aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Raymond Evans before being moved to the Cutter Winslow Griesser, which repatriated 27 individuals to Cuba. The U.S. Coast Guard repatriated 749 migrants to Cuba in FY2024 and 103 migrants from October 1, 2024 to May 2025.

IN CUBA

Two Islandwide Blackouts Strike Cuba in One Week

On July 6, Cuba experienced an island-wide blackout after the national electrical grid collapsed, impacting 9.6 million people and marking the third nationwide outage in 2026. By July 7, authorities had restored only about one-third of the grid, with recovery complicated by ongoing fuel shortages and aging infrastructure. The blackout occurred as many Cubans are already experiencing severe electricity rationing, with some areas receiving power for only a few hours per day. President Miguel Díaz-Canel attributed the crisis to “the genocidal oil blockade,” stating that the government was working to restore electricity while facing external pressures.

The situation worsened on July 10, when Cuba experienced a second nationwide blackout in less than a week, following another failure that disrupted the electrical grid. Officials warned that further disruptions remained possible due to ongoing supply constraints. On July 7, protests erupted in parts of Havana, with residents taking to the streets to demand the restoration of electricity and express anger over worsening living conditions. This marked Cuba’s fourth nationwide blackout in 2026.

Cuba Begins Implementing Reforms as Inflation Accelerates

Cuba has begun implementing measures related to the 176 economic and institutional reforms announced last month, aimed at reducing state control, expanding private sector activity, attracting foreign investment, and restructuring state enterprises. During a recent Council of Ministers meeting, President Díaz-Canel emphasized the need to prioritize measures that create a more level playing field among economic actors. In the non-state sector, the government stated several priorities, such as reducing bureaucratic requirements for creating new businesses.

Initial steps have focused on reorganizing state institutions and modifying economic regulations. The government has now established a National Institute of State Business Assets to oversee the transformation of Cuba’s state-owned enterprise system and consolidate responsibilities previously divided among multiple ministries. Authorities also transferred ownership of Terminal de Contenedores Mariel S.A., which operates Cuba’s largest commercial port and was previously part of GAESA’s logistics network, to a company managed by the Ministry of Transportation. Additional measures include increasing the monthly minimum wage from 2,100 to 3,210 pesos (approximately $27 at the official exchange rate and around $5 at the informal market rate) and reforming the pension system by removing contribution caps for private-sector workers, allowing dual contributions from individuals working in both the state and private sectors, and recognizing up to ten years of caregiving toward retirement eligibility. Referring to the increase in the minimum wage, Cuba’s Minister of Labor and Social Security said, “While we recognize that it is insufficient, we believe it is a first step that will have a positive impact,” amid unprecedented inflation.

The wage and pension reforms come as inflation continues to accelerate. According to Cuba's National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI), year-over-year inflation increased from 15.89 percent in May to 18.27 percent in June, with particularly sharp increases in food, transportation, education, and restaurants and hotels. Independent economists argue that official figures likely understate the true cost of living because they do not fully reflect prices in informal and private markets, where many Cubans now obtain essential goods.

The Cuban peso also remained under pressure in the informal currency market. Following the announcement of the reform package, the informal exchange rate briefly appreciated from nearly 700 CUP per U.S. dollar to 605 CUP at the end of June, reflecting cautious optimism. The trend quickly reversed, however, and by early July, the dollar had climbed back to around 680 CUP, suggesting that markets remain skeptical about the reforms' ability to address Cuba's underlying macroeconomic imbalances.

Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel Castillo Pérez Transferred from Prison, Locations Unknown

On July 7, activist and artist Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara was removed from his correctional facility and transferred to an undisclosed location pending departure for the US. On July 9, activist Anamely Ramos spoke with him by State Security phone and alleged that Cuban authorities transferred him to an undisclosed location as he awaits authorization to travel to the US. Authorities removed Otero from prison only two days prior to his release date of July 9. Otero Alcántara was first arrested on July 11, 2021, following his involvement in the nationwide protests, and was sentenced to five years in prison.

Just three days later, on July 10, another political prisoner, Maykel Castillo Pérez, known as Maykel Osorbo, was also removed from his correctional facility. Castillo Pérez has been imprisoned since May 18, 2021, and was sentenced to nine years in prison. Castillo Pérez was recently transferred to the Kilo 8 correctional facility after he was accused of planning a riot. This comes after the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) ruling in June that Cuba’s government mistreated him during his 2021 arrest.

On July 10, Cubalex filed an electronic habeas corpus petition seeking Otero’s release, seeking Cuban authorities to disclose his current location, clarify the supposed legality of his ongoing detention, and release him if no such grounds exist. Following Cubalex’s reports, on July 9, the United Nations Committee against Enforced Disappearances (CED) issued an urgent action regarding Otero’s disappearance, calling on Cuba’s government to submit a report on the whereabouts and protections of Otero no later than July 25.

Both Otero Alcántara and Castillo Pérez are co-founders of the San Isidro Movement, an artistic and political movement founded in 2018. During their time in prison, they have faced communication restrictions, denial of healthcare, and ongoing harassment. It’s reported that at least 823 people are imprisoned in Cuba for political reasons, with 337 imprisoned for their involvement with the July 11, 2021, protests in Cuba.

CUBA’S FOREIGN RELATIONS

UN Votes in Favor of Debate on U.S. Embargo on Cuba

On June 30, Cuba’s government urged the United Nations (UN) to formally vote on a motion to hold a General Assembly debate regarding the U.S. embargo on the island, so that member states may discuss possible rectifications for the situation. Leading up to the vote, the Trump administration issued a cable titled “Engaging UN member states on July 7 UN General Assembly open debate on Cuba”, urging member states to oppose Cuba’s motion.

Despite the administration’s efforts, on July 7, member states firmly voted in favor of Cuba’s request, with discussions continuing into the next day, a decision that the US also strongly opposed. There were 136 in favor, 9 against, and 30 abstentions, a notably high number compared with similar votes in the past, such as the vote on the annual resolution calling for an end to the U.S. embargo.

Represented by Ambassador Michael Waltz, the U.S. delegation emphasized that “communism never worked” in Cuba, pointing to the ongoing blackouts and political unrest on the island. Ambassador Waltz referenced the historic July 11, 2021, protests, showing the pictures and names of the artists and poets currently imprisoned by Cuba’s government. On his part, Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla repeated that Cuba is not a threat to the US and said the “blockade suffocates and kills silently. Addressing this ruthless crime is also a responsibility of the United Nations.”

Discussion primarily concentrated on the ongoing U.S. embargo against Cuba, as humanitarian and economic conditions worsen on the island. In response, member states urged civil dialogue between the US and Cuba. At the July 7 vote, most member states opposed the ongoing sanctions on the island, with CARICOM nations remaining divided. Meanwhile, the European Union called for humanitarian assistance for the island, as well as for sovereign, direct reconciliation to begin in Cuba.

The debate follows the Trump administration's broader effort to reshape international support for U.S. Cuba policy. In October 2025, the administration launched a diplomatic campaign urging U.N. member states to oppose the annual resolution calling for an end to the embargo, alleging that Cuba was supporting Russia's war in Ukraine by sending thousands of Cubans to fight for Moscow. Although the General Assembly again adopted the resolution last year, the vote reflected a notable shift, with Argentina, Hungary, North Macedonia, Paraguay, Ukraine, the U.S., and Israel voting against it and 12 countries abstaining, the highest level of opposition and abstentions in years.

Cuban Doctors Help Arrive in Venezuela Following Earthquakes

On June 28, 13 medical personnel from Cuba arrived in Venezuela to provide relief following the 7.2-magnitude and 7.0-magnitude earthquakes that hit seven states across the country. On June 29, a second group of Cuban doctors and healthcare workers arrived through the Valencia International Airport in Carabobo state. The personnel included surgeons and forensic doctors, and they were welcomed by Cuba’s Ambassador to Venezuela, Jorge Mayo. Meanwhile, Cuban doctors already located in Venezuela provided immediate relief through field hospitals. Cuban doctors are providing care in the most at-risk locations in the country, such as the “Doctora Dora Mercedes González” Comprehensive Diagnostic Center in La Guaira state.

Cuba’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, said on X that Cuban health workers are fully ready to provide aid to Venezuela, and that Cuba stands in solidarity with the country. President Miguel Díaz-Canel also commented on X about the medical mobilization, stating that he was in regular communication with Jorge Mayo regarding developments during the crisis, as they seek to provide as much aid as possible.

Jamaica Reaches New Agreement for Cuban Medical Personnel

On July 5, Jamaica's Minister of Health, Chris Tufton, announced that 50 Cuban doctors and nurses, forming part of Comercializadora de Servicios Médicos Cubanos (CSMC), are set to return to Jamaica under a new bilateral agreement. This follows Cuba’s withdrawal of its 277 medical professionals from Jamaica in March 2023, after the two governments couldn’t agree on a new technical cooperation framework. While most Cubans returned home, around 40 doctors chose to remain on the island under individual contracts. Now, 50 Cuban doctors will join them upon their return.

Under this new agreement, workers will operate under individual employment contracts, receive their salaries directly, and have complete control over their travel documentation, thereby reducing state oversight significantly. Following the announcement of the agreement, Representatives María Elvira Salazar (FL-27), Mario Díaz-Balart (FL-26), Carlos Giménez (FL-28) and Christopher Smith (NJ-04) sent a letter to Washington urging sanctions on the CSMC, arguing the initiation of a program between Cuba and Jamaica will put workers' labor rights at risk.

Uruguayan and Cuban Officials Meet to Discuss Migration

On June 25, Uruguay and Cuba held a bilateral Migration and Consular Consultation meeting to discuss migration trends and strengthen cooperation. According to Uruguay’s government, during the meeting, the delegations exchanged migration statistics, shared best practices on consular services and migration policies, and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding collaboration on migration issues, including combating human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Both sides emphasized that these regular consultations help promote safe, orderly, and regular migration while enhancing protections for migrants.

Cuban migration to South America has increased over the past several years, and Uruguay now hosts a large number of Cuban asylum-seekers and refugees, ranking third in 2025 for the highest number of Cuban asylum-seeker applications (26,626). In December 2024, Uruguay launched the Residency by Roots (Residencias por Arraigo) program, creating a pathway for certain asylum seekers, including many Cubans, to obtain legal residency without completing the asylum process. The program allows eligible applicants who entered Uruguay before May 23, 2024, have lived in the country for at least 180 days, and can demonstrate ties to regularize their immigration status.

Cuban and Iranian Officials Discuss Relations

On July 4, Cuba’s Minister of Higher Education, Walter Baluja García, traveled to Tehran, Iran, to attend the funeral of the former Supreme Leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While visiting, he was received and later conversed with Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a representative of Iran’s National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, regarding Cuba-Iran relations. In addition to the funeral proceedings, Baluja García met with Iran's Minister of Science, Research and Technology, Hossein Simaei Saraf, to discuss research investment, academic development, and economic cooperation between their two nations.

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