Independent UN human rights experts condemned a fresh round of US sanctions against Cuba on Thursday, August 6th, 2026, describing them as an attempt to force change on “a sovereign State through threats and coercion.” The sanctions, which have expanded since June 2026, target key sectors of the Cuban economy, particularly energy companies, further restricting fuel imports even for humanitarian purposes.

The experts highlighted that Cuba is currently facing severe fuel shortages and a third major nationwide blackout. This has led to simultaneous breakdowns in energy, transport, irrigation, and basic services, disproportionately affecting women, children, older people, and rural farmers. They warned that the humanitarian consequences are evolving into a full-blown crisis, threatening fundamental rights to health, life, food, and development. Reports of uncollected waste piling up in parts of Havana raise concerns about potential disease outbreaks.

On July 20th, 2026, the US State Department released a report titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st-Century Communism," labeling the one-party state as a multifaceted threat to US national security and regional stability. However, the UN experts noted the report offers no concrete evidence that Cuba supports terrorism or subversion and expressed concern that political and ideological motives, rather than security concerns, are driving the continued pressure.

The Human Rights Council–appointed group of experts also warned that without swift action from the international community and civil society, Cuba risks becoming a “silent Gaza,” a comparison recently made by four members of the US Congress during a visit to the island.

The independent experts called on the US Government to cease all threats and hostile acts against Cuba's sovereignty and to revoke all sanctions that contravene international law. They urged the UN Security Council and General Assembly to treat the situation as an urgent matter of international peace and security.

Sources