Four people have died and over 500 have been detained in Luanda, Angola after a taxi drivers’ strike escalated into widespread anti-government protests, police confirmed on Tuesday.
The three day strike, launched Monday, responded to a recent 30% increase in diesel prices introduced by the government in July. The hike led to a sharp rise in taxi fares, sparking frustration across the capital.
Thousands of citizens joined the demonstration, turning it into one of the largest public protests Angola has experienced in recent years. According to local media, police fired tear gas and smoke grenades to disperse crowds, while public vehicles were damaged and more than 40 shops vandalized.
Authorities reported that order was largely restored by Tuesday, though tensions remain high. “The fuel price issue is just the last straw,” said activist Laura Macedo. “Hunger is rife, and the poor are becoming miserable.”
The price hike stems from President João Lourenço’s plan to phase out fuel subsidies, part of broader economic reforms influenced by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The measure has raised concerns that food and transport costs could surge, placing added strain on vulnerable populations.
Last year, the African Development Bank cautioned that rising costs across several African nations could spark social unrest a prediction now playing out in Angola.
Police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues stated that arrests would continue and urged citizens to use official channels including social media to report concerns.
Earlier protests this month also met heavy police resistance. Human Rights Watch criticized the force for excessive measures against peaceful demonstrators. Angola’s security services have long faced scrutiny over their handling of public dissent, particularly under the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, in power since independence in 1975.
Ashwanee Budoo Scholtz, HRW’s deputy Africa director, noted, “The police use of excessive force against peaceful protesters is part of broader security force problems in Angola.”
