WASHINGTON, United States (AFP)—United States (US) Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that crisis-hit Cuba’s leadership must change as Washington renewed an offer on Wednesday of $100 million in aid if the communist-run island agrees to cooperate.

Cuba has been suffering severe economic tumult led by an energy shortage that plunged 65 per cent of the country into darkness on Tuesday.

Cuba’s leaders have blamed US sanctions, but Rubio, a Cuban-American and vociferous critic of the government established by Fidel Castro, said the system was to blame, including corruption by the military.