LUANDA, ANGOLA – At least 22 people have died, and 197 others were injured amid widespread unrest sparked by protests against a government diesel price hike in Angola, officials confirmed on Wednesday. More than 1,200 arrests have been made since the demonstrations began earlier this week, according to a government statement.
The protests erupted on Monday when minibus taxi associations initiated a three-day strike opposing the government’s decision to increase diesel prices by one-third. The move forms part of efforts to reduce costly fuel subsidies and improve Angola’s strained public finances. Initial demonstrations in the capital Luanda rapidly escalated, spreading to six additional provinces.
Scenes of looting, vandalism, and violent clashes with police marked the unrest. Sporadic gunfire was reported across Luanda and other cities, while dozens of shops and vehicles were damaged or destroyed. The government reported 66 shops and 25 vehicles vandalised, with supermarkets and warehouses also targeted by looters.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the Angolan army was deployed to restore order. Interior Minister Manuel Homem confirmed that one of the fatalities was a police officer.
The streets of Luanda remained tense and largely deserted on Wednesday, with a significant security force presence. Many shops stayed closed, though public transportation gradually resumed following the two-day strike.
Human Rights Watch previously accused police of excessive force during earlier protests, stating that authorities used tear gas and rubber bullets unnecessarily against mostly peaceful demonstrators.
The fuel subsidy reduction has been a source of public discontent since 2023 when a similar petrol price increase sparked deadly protests. The International Monetary Fund and other international bodies have encouraged Angola to phase out subsidies.
Angola’s ruling party, the MPLA, has held power since independence in 1975. Opposition parties UNITA and Bloco Democrático released a joint statement describing the nation’s situation as a “severe economic and social crisis” caused by government policies disconnected from the realities faced by ordinary Angolans.
According to the country’s finance minister, subsidies accounted for as much as 4 percent of Angola’s gross domestic product (GDP) last year, presenting a significant fiscal burden on the government.
