By Mafa Kwanisai Mafa

The latest decision by the United States to impose another round of sanctions on Cuba has once again brought renewed attention to a policy that has lasted for more than six decades.

According to the Cuban government, these new measures expand restrictions on key institutions, including the Ministry of Tourism and companies involved in trade, fuel imports, and other important economic activities.

Cuba argues that these actions are intended to further weaken its economy and increase pressure on the country.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez strongly condemned the new sanctions, describing them as another attempt to intensify economic hardship for the Cuban people.

He argued that the measures are not directed only at the government but affect the daily lives of ordinary citizens by making it even harder to access food, medicine, fuel, and other basic necessities.

Whether one agrees with the Cuban government’s position or not, one fact is difficult to ignore: economic sanctions almost always have their greatest impact on ordinary people.

Families struggle to buy food, hospitals face shortages of medicine and equipment, businesses lose customers and investment, and young people become increasingly uncertain about their future.

The latest sanctions target sectors that are essential to Cuba’s economy. Tourism is one of the country’s main sources of foreign currency. When tourism is restricted, the consequences extend beyond government institutions.

Hotel workers, taxi drivers, restaurant owners, tour guides, artisans, farmers supplying food to hotels, and many small entrepreneurs all lose income.

The sanctions also affect companies involved in importing fuel and conducting international trade. Fuel shortages have become one of Cuba’s biggest challenges in recent years.

Without enough fuel, electricity generation becomes unreliable, resulting in frequent power cuts that disrupt homes, schools, hospitals, industries, and transportation. These problems create a chain reaction throughout the economy.

Interestingly, criticism of the sanctions is not coming only from Cuba. A recent fact-finding mission by four members of the United States Congress offered a different perspective after spending four days meeting people from different backgrounds across the island.

Representatives Mark Pocan, Teresa Leger Fernández, Delia Ramirez, and Maxine Dexter travelled to Cuba to hear directly from citizens, business owners, healthcare professionals, farmers, religious leaders, humanitarian organisations, and civil society groups.

Their observations paint a picture of a country facing severe humanitarian and economic difficulties.

Representative Mark Pocan noted that Cuba’s growing private sector has significant potential but is being constrained by U.S. sanctions that limit access to financing, reduce business opportunities, discourage investment, and restrict trade.

This is an important point because the sanctions affect not only state-owned enterprises but also many private businesses trying to create jobs and improve livelihoods.

Representative Delia Ramirez focused on migration. She argued that difficult economic conditions are forcing many Cubans to leave their country in search of better opportunities.

According to her observations, many people feel trapped between economic hardship at home and the uncertainty of immigration abroad.

This raises important questions about whether economic pressure is helping or worsening the migration challenges that both Cuba and the United States seek to address.

Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, who is also a medical doctor, highlighted the pressure being experienced by Cuba’s healthcare system. Cuba has long been recognised internationally for providing universal healthcare despite its limited resources.

However, maintaining such a system becomes increasingly difficult when hospitals struggle to obtain medicines, medical equipment, replacement parts, and reliable electricity. Healthcare workers can only do so much when essential supplies become scarce.

Representative Teresa Leger Fernández described the situation as a “siege” and argued that restrictions on medical supplies, fuel, and other essential goods have serious humanitarian consequences.

She pointed to rising infant mortality and shortages affecting mothers and children as evidence that ordinary civilians are carrying the heaviest burden.

Perhaps the most striking observation from the congressional delegation was that people from different political viewpoints reportedly shared one common concern.

According to the lawmakers, regardless of opinions about the Cuban government or ongoing economic reforms, many people agreed that the current sanctions are making everyday life significantly more difficult.

The delegation also reported witnessing firsthand the effects of prolonged fuel shortages. Electrical blackouts interrupted daily life, public transport was severely affected, rubbish collection was disrupted, and shortages of food and medicine continued to worsen.

These are not abstract economic statistics. They are challenges that directly affect families trying to live normal lives.

Another important issue is the effect of secondary sanctions. Because foreign companies risk penalties for doing business with Cuban entities under U.S. sanctions, many choose to avoid the Cuban market altogether.

This limits investment, reduces access to international banking services, and makes it harder for Cuba to import essential goods. The result is an economy that struggles to function normally.

Supporters of sanctions often argue that economic pressure encourages political change and promotes democratic reforms. Critics, however, question whether decades of sanctions have achieved those goals.

After more than sixty years, Cuba continues to face serious economic hardship while the political system remains largely unchanged. This has led many observers to ask whether the current approach is producing the intended results or simply increasing human suffering.

The international community has repeatedly expressed concern over the embargo and sanctions. Cuba notes that the United Nations General Assembly has, on numerous occasions, voted overwhelmingly in favour of resolutions calling for an end to the U.S. embargo.

Most recently, Cuba highlighted broad international support for renewed discussion of the issue within the United Nations. While General Assembly resolutions are not legally binding, they reflect the views of a large majority of member states and demonstrate that many countries favour greater engagement rather than continued isolation.

Engagement and dialogue do not require agreement on every political issue. Countries with different political systems often maintain diplomatic relations, trade, and cooperation while continuing to express differences on governance and human rights.

Constructive engagement may provide more opportunities for communication, reform, economic development, and mutual understanding than policies centred primarily on economic pressure.

Ultimately, the greatest concern should be the welfare of ordinary people. Regardless of political differences between governments, civilians should not bear the greatest burden of international disputes. Every child deserves access to healthcare, every family deserves reliable electricity and food, and every entrepreneur deserves a fair opportunity to build a livelihood.

The statements from Cuban officials and the observations made by members of the U.S. congressional delegation both point toward the significant humanitarian consequences associated with the current sanctions regime.

While opinions differ on the best path forward, there is growing debate about whether continued economic restrictions are achieving their stated objectives or primarily worsening the daily lives of millions of Cubans.

As discussions continue, policymakers on all sides face an important question: should future relations be guided primarily by pressure, or by dialogue, cooperation, and policies that place the well-being of ordinary people at the centre?

For many Cubans facing daily shortages and uncertainty, the answer may have immediate consequences for their future.