22 Killed, 197 Injured in Angola Fuel Price Protests
Violence erupts in Luanda after fare hikes and diesel price increase spark nationwide unrest.
- 22 killed, nearly 200 injured in Angola fuel price protests
- 1,214 arrested after violence erupts over diesel price hike and fare increases
- Government subsidy cuts spark fresh unrest amid IMF-backed reforms
A wave of violent protests over rising fuel prices has claimed 22 lives and left 197 people injured in Angola, Interior Minister Manuel Homem confirmed Wednesday following a Council of Ministers meeting, as reported by state outlet Angop.
The unrest began Monday in the capital Luanda and quickly spread, sparked by a 50% fare hike by taxi and minibus operators protesting a government decision to raise diesel prices by 33%. The move is part of Angola’s controversial fuel subsidy cuts, a policy backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) since 2023.
Among the dead is a police officer, while authorities have arrested 1,214 individuals for alleged involvement in rioting, looting, and attacks on security personnel.
Police spokesman Mateus Rodrigues insisted the violent acts seen in Luanda were not legitimate protests, but criminal unrest.
Angola, despite being the second-largest oil producer in Africa, has faced recurring tensions due to its gradual removal of fuel subsidies—a process that continues to ignite public outrage and deadly confrontations.
