Anger and frustration boil over as Fuel costs push families deeper into poverty. Image: BBC News Africa.
(The Post News)– Angola has been rocked by mass protests since Monday, triggered by a sharp increase in fuel prices. The unrest has resulted in the arrest of 500 people and the deaths of four civilians during clashes with police.
What began as a strike by taxi drivers in response to a 33% diesel price hike has escalated into one of Angola’s most widespread and chaotic protest movements in recent years. Demonstrators have blocked roads, looted shops, and destroyed vehicles, prompting a heavy-handed police response.
Prominent local activist Laura Macedo told the BBC that public frustration has reached a boiling point. She said that people are outraged by the rising petrol prices—the poor are becoming poorer, and this fuel crisis has sparked long-standing dissatisfaction.
President João Lourenço, however, has downplayed the public’s concerns, insisting that protesters are using fuel prices as a pretext to destabilize the government. Speaking to the BBC, Lourenço argued that Angola still has some of the lowest fuel prices globally, noting that even after the recent increase, diesel costs remain around 40 US cents per liter.
On Monday, local authorities issued a statement denouncing the acts of vandalism and disruption caused by the strike. In response, the national taxi association distanced itself from the violence, claiming that those responsible were not affiliated with their organization.
The protests began after the government raised diesel prices in early July, part of a broader plan to phase out fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation. Anata, Angola’s leading taxi union, launched a three-day strike starting Monday but reiterated that they are not connected to the unrest that ensued.
Police have since stepped up patrols and warned civilians to remain calm. While some public sector workers have returned to their jobs, many employees in the private sector have stayed home amid ongoing tensions and business closures.
Journalist-Kgopotso@thepostnews.net
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