NEWS & POLITICS
At least 22 people killed after fuel hike protest turn deadly in Angola
Massive protests triggered by the Angolan government's fuel price hike have led to at least 22 deaths, 1,200 detentions, and nearly 200 injuries last week, according to a government statement.
Michael Oduor
The Taxi Association's call for protests demanding lower fuel prices escalated into massive demonstrations as the public joined in, angered by how high fuel prices have driven up fares and commodity costs.
Police failed to contain demonstrations originating in the capital, Luanda, which then spread to other provinces. The army was deployed as the situation escalated, leading to the looting of businesses and the vandalism of dozens of shops and vehicles.
The hike saw the price of fuel increase from 300 to 400 Kwanzas, or 0.33 to 0.43 US dollars.
Effective July 1, the Angolan government increased fuel prices by one-third to curb costly subsidies.
These reforms were recommended by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to free up funds for Angola's struggling education and health sectors.
Angola initiated the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, which led to higher fuel prices, but these changes have always been met with similar protests.
As of May 2025, Angola faces 20% year-on-year inflation. Official unemployment is estimated at 14–15%, though overall unemployment stands at 30% and youth unemployment is higher.
The opposition and civil rights groups condemned these actions by the government.
President João Lourenço said he was monitoring the security situation very carefully and that further actions might be taken if the situation becomes tense in the coming days.
