At least 22 people have been killed in violent protests that erupted across Angola following a sharp increase in fuel prices, authorities confirmed on Wednesday.
The unrest was sparked by the government’s decision to cut diesel subsidies, leading to widespread clashes, looting, and mass arrests. The violence has spread beyond the capital, Luanda, into several other provinces.
Protests began on Monday after minibus taxi unions launched a three-day strike in response to the government’s move to raise diesel prices by one-third a policy aimed at reducing fuel subsidies and stabilizing national finances.
What started as a strike quickly escalated into violent demonstrations, with reports of looting, vandalism, and deadly confrontations between protesters and security forces.
In response to the growing crisis, President João Lourenço’s cabinet convened an emergency meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation and coordinate a national security response.
A presidential statement confirmed, “22 fatalities, 197 injuries, and 1,214 arrests, along with damage to 66 shops, 25 vehicles, and the looting of multiple supermarkets and warehouses.”
This latest upheaval echoes unrest in 2023, when similar subsidy cuts backed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), sparked fatal protests.
Angola, a major oil producer, has been gradually phasing out fuel subsidies, which last year accounted for 4% of GDP, according to the finance minister.
Investors are closely tracking the reforms, viewing them as a test of Angola’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
An emerging markets debt manager at Neuberger Berman, Pieter Niesten said, “Subsidy removal signals the government’s willingness to make tough structural reforms.
“Fuel subsidies are expected to drop to 1.8% of GDP this year.”
The crisis underscores the economic and social risks of austerity measures in a nation where many rely on subsidized fuel for livelihoods.
