22 killed in Angola fuel hike unrest since Monday
Image: AFP
Unrest in Angola following protests against a fuel price hike has killed 22 people since Monday, the interior minister said, as calm returned to the capital.
Sporadic gunfire was heard across Luanda and several other cities on Monday and Tuesday as people looted shops and clashed with police when violence erupted during a taxi strike.
The strike was the latest in a series of protests after the price of fuel was hiked from 300 to 400 kwanzas ($0.33 to $0.43) a litre on July 1, squeezing living costs for the millions of poor in one of Africa's top oil producers.
"We regret 22 deaths, including one police officer," Interior Minister Manuel Homem told reporters in a press conference on Wednesday.
Nearly 200 people were injured in the violence, he said, and more than 1,200 people had been arrested.
Shops and businesses remained closed in Luanda on Wednesday as security forces patrolled the city.
The streets were largely empty as people stayed home, although there were some queues outside petrol stations and shops, AFP reporters said.
Police in the southern city of Lubango confirmed separately that a police officer had shot and killed a 16-year-old on Tuesday.
The teenager was part of a group attempting to invade the headquarters of the ruling MPLA party, a statement said.
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Advertisement
Video Player is loading.
Play Video
Play
Unmute
Current Time
0:00
/
Duration
-:-
Loaded :
0%
Stream Type LIVE
Seek to live, currently behind live
LIVE
Remaining Time
-
0:00
This is a modal window.
Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.
Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan
Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque
Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps
Reset
restore all settings to the default values Done
Close Modal Dialog
End of dialog window.
Next
Stay
Close ✕
Series of protests
Anger against the price hike was also the focus of a demonstration of around 2,000 people in Luanda on Saturday, with protesters also alleging government corruption.
There had been similar protests the two previous weekends.
Four people were killed on the first day of the unrest on Monday, according to police.
Local media reported other victims on Tuesday.
TV Nzinga showed women weeping over a body in a street in Luanda's central Cazenga area as people ran out of a supermarket carrying food and goods. The report did not say how the person was killed.
In the same area, a young man was killed near a supermarket, apparently by a stray bullet, an AFP reporter said.
Protests and unrest were also reported outside the capital, including in the city of Huambo, around 600 kilometres (370 miles) north of Luanda, police said.
Images on social media also showed protests in the coastal city of Benguela, south of the capital.
The Portuguese-speaking country of more than 36 million has a high inflation rate that neared 20 percent in June, while the unemployment rate hit almost 30 percent, according to the national statistics authority.
AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
Defence Minister defends SANDF's DRC deployment amid casualties
Defence Minister Angie Motshekga said the presence of the SADC Mission in the DRC in various areas of South Kivu from January 2024 provided safety, security, and stability for the people of the City of Goma and the surrounding areas. Image: Phando Jikelo / Independent Newspapers Defence Minister Angie Motshekga still maintains that the deployment of the SANDF to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) was a success despite the tragic loss of 14 soldiers and 174 injuries. Motshekga said the presence of the SADC Mission in the DRC in various areas of South Kivu from January 2024 provided safety, security, and stability for the people of the City of Goma and the surrounding areas. 'This was demonstrated by the communities coming back to their places of residence or homesteads as well as their livelihoods. 'The fights among various illegal armed groups, the M23 as well as the DRC Armed Forces were drastically reduced and with minimal displacement of communities in the far mountain areas,' she said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Motshekga was responding to IFP MP Russel Cebekhulu, who noted the controversy surrounding the SAMIDRC (SADC Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo) and loss of life and conflicting accounts of its success. He wanted to know what Motshekga based her claim of success on, despite the rebels still in control of key areas such as Goma and Sake, while the peace efforts were elusive. Motshekga said the positive assessment of the SADC Mission's performance was demonstrated by the UN Mission reports as well as the positive reports by the UN headquarters in New York. 'A number of commendable statements of the positive work of SAMIDRC were issued by the UN.' She also said the success of the mission was demonstrated and has to be gauged on the ultimate achievement of the presence of the mission, leading to the engagement among the warring parties in North Kivu. Motshekga stated that there was a standing and planned session of the SADC Organ on Peace and Security to undertake a session on the lessons learned for future peace support operations. 'Reforms of future peacekeeping and or regional support missions reside in the domain of the region as a collective. Safety of peacekeepers is embedded in all peace support missions and or deployments as per the UN prescripts.' She stated that the SANDF will be involved as part of the collective that will undergo the SADC standing operating procedure of undertaking readiness review of deployments, including SAMIDRC. Motshekga added that all SANDF capabilities, including and not limited to intelligence, logistics support, and coordination with other role-players in SADC in SADC and AU missions, will be strengthened. According to Motshekga, the deployment in Goma, DRC, has confirmed and reiterated their position and outcry for the express requirement of adequate funding provision by the government to acquire an acceptable level of new and modern prime mission equipment. 'The lessons learnt will be utilised in our training centres and schools as scenarios as well as applied in our planning sessions at various levels to ensure improvement in the conduct of future peace-keeping missions,' said Motshekga when responding to ANC MP Dakota Legoete. Legoete asked about valuable insights the SANDF gained from its deployment in the DRC. Meanwhile, Motshekga also said there were lessons learnt in training and operations from the Battle of Bangui regarding the deployments of the SANDF. 'The lessons have been integrated into training by, for example, choosing terrain forms similar to the area of deployment. The integration into operations is based on our concept of train as you fight." She also said there were no deficiencies that were identified regarding accountability at the Battle of Bangui. 'Bearing in mind that our soldiers were outnumbered, they had fought bravely,' she said when asked about measures to prevent future operational failures and loss of soldiers' lives.
IOL News
3 hours ago
- IOL News
King Khoisan SA's fight for Khoisan rights continues after eviction from Union Buildings
King Khoisan SA vows to continue fighting for Khoisan recognition in South Africa. Image: Thobile Mathonsi / Independent Newspapers King Khoisan SA has vowed to continue advocating for the recognition of the Khoisan people as South Africa's first nation, despite being forcibly removed from the Union Buildings lawn in February after a five-year protest. The eviction, which was carried out following a Gauteng High Court order, has not deterred King Khoisan from pursuing his demands, which include recognition of the Khoisan people's rights, land ownership, and abolition of the term "coloured". King Khoisan SA said on Tuesday that he is determined to push forward with a demand to have the Khoisan people recognised as the first nation in the country. He has started a nationwide mobilisation effort, visiting different provinces to regroup and rally support. He said he has already visited the Western Cape and is currently crisscrossing the Eastern Cape, with plans to stage a massive action towards the end of this year or early next year. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ "The advocacy to have the Khoisan recognised as the first nation is still ongoing. I have actually now started to visit different provinces, speaking to leadership and trying to regroup," he said. He said his legal team has discovered that the eviction was potentially illegal, and preparations are under way to wage a legal battle against the government. He claims that the government broke its promise to keep their possessions safe, resulting in losses estimated at R80 million to R90 million. "We have lost close to R80 million to R90 million. For example, we had paintings there which were over R50,000," he said, adding that some awards bestowed upon him, including one from the African Nations, are missing. The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, which obtained an eviction order, cited that the Union Buildings are a heritage site where no temporary structures are allowed. The department previously said no appeals or opposition were received against the court order for the eviction of the Khoisan community from the Union Buildings. According to the department, they complied with all high court orders, which included consulting with stakeholders like other government departments and the City of Tshwane, to assist individuals willing to return home. King Khoisan SA said the local Khoisan group has allied with their counterparts in Namibia and Botswana, and is mobilising Africans from different tribes to support their cause.
eNCA
3 hours ago
- eNCA
Hobbled at home, Nigerian sportswomen dominate abroad
As Nigerian women dominate sports on the continent, they're facing off not just against top talent abroad but a domestic atmosphere of mismanagement and pay disparities -- and even the risk of repression for speaking out. Nigeria is fresh off a win at the finals of Women's AfroBasket, their fifth-consecutive championship at the continent's top hardwood tournament, while last month the Super Falcons clinched their 10th Women's Africa Cup of Nations football title. The football team's successes in particular have come in the face of pay disparities compared to their male counterparts -- when they get paid at all. The women receive a training camp allowance but the bulk of their pay comes from per-match bonuses, which vary depending on the team's results. Both the women's basketball and football teams have been plagued by late or unpaid match bonuses for years, despite their records as arguably the best teams on the continent. But when the Super Falcons landed in Abuja after their 3-2 WAFCON victory over host Morocco last month, none of the players answered questions shouted by an AFP reporter in the press scrum about whether they would ask the president, who was welcoming them at his villa, about being paid the same as the men's team. Nigerian journalists on the scene said the question was useless: it was far too politically charged. "If you speak up against what's going on, you completely lose the possibility of getting what you're entitled to, you could actually be blacklisted," Solace Chukwu, senior editor at Afrik-Foot Nigeria, later told AFP. - Strikes over late payments - Not that there aren't clashes: in 2021, basketballers called out the authorities when they topped Africa, protesting against unpaid match bonuses. The Nigeria Basketball Federation at the time denied any wrongdoing, blaming the issue on clerical errors. Like the basketball team, the women's football team has found remarkable success, stemming in part from the country's population of more than 200 million -- the largest on the continent, complemented by a widespread diaspora. They also benefited from early investments in women's football at a time when other African countries focused on men's teams, Chukwu said, helping the Super Falcons win the first seven editions of the WAFCON, from 1991 to 2006. Yet they only played a handful of test matches before they landed in Morocco for this year's competition, cobbled together at the last second. The Super Falcons haven't been completely silent in the face of mismanagement and disinterest from authorities. But rocking the boat too much appears to come with a cost. "Players who lead or dare to protest... always risk not being invited or sidelined outrightly," said Harrison Jalla, a players' union official. After Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie -- now a commentator -- led protests over unpaid wages at the 2019 Women's World Cup, she was stripped of her captaincy and was not called up for the 2022 tournament. Former men's coach Sunday Oliseh -- who himself was let go from the national squad amid protests over backpay in the early 2000s -- called the situation a case of "criminal" retaliation. The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) at the time denied that it dropped Oparanozie over the protests. The NFF and the Super Falcons did not respond to an AFP request for comment on the allegations that players are afraid to speak out. - 'Sky is the limit' - Players still have hopes for women's sports to expand. "I think the sky is the limit," Nigerian point guard Promise Amukamara told AFP in Abuja, fresh off her AfroBasket win. "Obviously, more facilities should be built around Nigeria. I feel like maybe, one year we should host the AfroBasket." Aisha Falode, an NFF official, meanwhile, called on the government to "invest in the facilities, invest in the leagues and the players, because the women's game can no longer be taken lightly". Despite the challenges, women's sports are still finding a foothold among younger fans. Justina Oche, 16, a player at a football academy in Abuja, told AFP that the exploits of the team inspired her to pursue a career in the sport. "They say what a man can do, a woman can do even better," said the youngster, whose role model is six-time African Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala. "The Super Falcons have again proved this." By Samm Audu And Nicholas Roll
