Unrest in Angola leaves 22 dead following protests over fuel price hike

Unrest sparked by a recent fuel price increase in Angola has claimed the lives of 22 people since July 28, Interior Minister Manuel Homem confirmed as calm slowly returned to the capital, Luanda.

The violence erupted during a taxi strike that followed widespread protests over the government’s decision to raise fuel prices from 300 to 400 kwanzas per liter ($0.33 to $0.43) on July 1, exacerbating living costs for millions in one of Africa’s largest oil producers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Arab media.

Sporadic gunfire was heard across Luanda and several other cities on July 28-29, with reports of looting and clashes between protestors and police. “We regret 22 deaths, including one police officer,” Homem said during a press conference. He added that nearly 200 people were injured, and over 1,200 individuals had been arrested in connection with the unrest.

Despite a gradual return to order, shops and businesses remained closed in Luanda on July 30 as security forces continued to patrol the city. The streets were largely empty, with people mostly staying indoors, though queues were observed outside some petrol stations and shops.

In the southern city of Lubango, police confirmed that a 16-year-old was shot dead by an officer while attempting to invade the ruling MPLA party headquarters. This incident highlights the breadth of discontent spreading beyond the capital.

The anger fueling the protests first surfaced on July 26 during a demonstration of approximately 2,000 people in Luanda, where grievances over corruption accompanied complaints about soaring fuel prices. Similar protests had taken place over the preceding two weekends.

Four people were reportedly killed on July 28, the first day of the unrest, according to police, with additional casualties reported on July 29. Local media showed heart-wrenching scenes of women weeping over bodies in Luanda’s Cazenga district, while AFP journalists observed a young man fatally struck by a stray bullet near a supermarket.

Protests have also been reported in other regions, including Huambo, about 600 kilometers north of Luanda, and the coastal city of Benguela.

Angola, home to over 36 million people, faces soaring inflation nearing 20 percent as of June, alongside an unemployment rate approaching 30 percent, according to national statistics—factors contributing to the mounting social unrest.

By Vafa Guliyeva