At least four people were killed and more than 500 arrested in Angola’s capital, Luanda, after a taxi drivers’ strike escalated into mass anti-government protests, police confirmed on Tuesday. The three-day strike, which began on Monday, was organized by taxi unions in response to a controversial government decision made in July to increase diesel prices by 30%. The hike, part of President João Lourenço’s IMF-backed plan to phase out fuel subsidies, triggered a sharp rise in transport fares—sparking public outrage in a country already grappling with high poverty and inflation.
Thousands of citizens joined the strike, turning it into one of the largest street demonstrations Angola has seen in recent years. Protesters voiced frustrations not only about fuel prices but also about deepening economic hardship, unemployment, and government inaction. “This isn’t just about fuel—it’s about how the poor are being crushed under rising prices while elites continue to thrive,” said Luanda-based activist Laura Macedo in an interview with the BBC. “People are hungry, and they’ve had enough.”
Police responded with tear gas, rubber bullets, and smoke grenades to disperse crowds. Local media outlet Novo Jornal reported the destruction of public buses and private vehicles, along with vandalism at over 40 stores across Luanda. Footage shared on social media showed chaos in major intersections and clashes between law enforcement and protesters. Authorities said calm had been restored by Tuesday, but warned that further arrests were likely. “We will continue our operations in Luanda in the coming days,” said national police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues. He urged citizens to channel grievances through official reporting systems rather than the streets.
Human rights organizations have raised alarms over the government’s response. Human Rights Watch (HRW) accused Angolan police of using excessive force against mostly peaceful demonstrators. “Security forces have a long history of suppressing dissent in Angola,” said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, HRW’s deputy Africa director. “This pattern of violence must stop.” Earlier this year, the African Development Bank warned that soaring food and energy costs could trigger widespread unrest across Africa. Angola, an oil-rich nation with vast wealth disparities, is now living that reality. The ruling MPLA party, in power since Angola’s independence from Portugal in 1975, is under increasing pressure to respond to its citizens’ worsening living conditions, as analysts warn that more protests could erupt unless urgent reforms are made.
