At least four people have been killed and more than 500 arrested in Angola following violent protests triggered by a government decision to increase diesel prices. The unrest, which began on Monday, continued into Tuesday in parts of the capital, Luanda, as police struggled to contain scattered outbreaks of violence.
The protests erupted after the Angolan government raised the price of diesel by one-third, a move aimed at easing the burden of fuel subsidies on public finances. Authorities have argued that subsidy reforms are necessary for economic stability, but the latest hike sparked widespread anger, particularly among public transport operators.
Minibus taxi associations, central to daily transportation for many Angolans, responded by increasing fares by up to 50% and launching a three-day strike. The strike, which began on Monday, quickly escalated into violent demonstrations marked by looting, vandalism, and confrontations with law enforcement.
“Shops, banks, buses, and private vehicles were vandalised,” said national police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues at a press briefing. He confirmed that over 500 people had been arrested and acknowledged the continued existence of “pockets of disorder” across Luanda.
This is not the first time fuel reforms have sparked unrest in Angola. In 2023, similar protests broke out over a petrol price increase, also resulting in fatalities. As an oil-producing nation in Southern Africa, Angola has long relied on fuel subsidies to cushion the cost of living, but economic pressures have forced the government to begin scaling them back.
Despite the unrest, the government has not announced any reversal of the price hike, raising concerns that tensions may persist if relief measures are not introduced.
Melissa Enoch
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