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The Star
29-07-2025
- The Star
4 killed in Angola amid unrest during taxi drivers' strike: police
LUANDA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- Four people have been killed in the Angolan capital of Luanda amid looting and vandalism following the start of a three-day taxi drivers' strike on Monday, according to police. Police spokesperson and Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues said at a press conference on Tuesday that 500 people were arrested over the past 24 hours for suspected involvement in the unrest. He noted that of the 500 arrests, 100 were made on the first day and the rest on Tuesday, with approximately 45 commercial stores, 25 private vehicles, 20 public buses, three bank branches, and two ATMs impacted. However, the commissioner assured that the public safety situation in Luanda Province is currently stable as social normality returns with the reopening of main roads and other establishments where acts of vandalism occurred. The spokesperson said obstacles placed on the roads to impede the free movement of people and goods were removed on Monday. He added that there have been reports of some outbreaks of disorder where individuals attempting to do as they did on Monday were repelled. The National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola announced earlier the suspension of taxi services in Luanda from Monday to Wednesday to protest rising fuel prices.
The Herald
29-07-2025
- The Herald
Four killed, hundreds arrested in Angola fuel hike protests
At least four people were killed in violent protests in Angola over a fuel price hike, leading to hundreds of arrests, with unrest continuing in a few parts of the capital Luanda on Tuesday, police said. Monday's violence, which involved looting, acts of vandalism and clashes with police, followed a government decision early this month to increase the diesel price by one-third to ease the strain of costly fuel subsidies on public finances. Minibus taxi associations, which hiked their fares by up to 50%, launched a three-day strike to protest the move on Monday, when the violence erupted. More than 500 people were arrested and shops, banks, buses and private vehicles were vandalised, national police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues told a press conference, saying there were still 'pockets of disorder' in parts of Luanda. The Southern African oil-producing country has been gradually cutting fuel subsidies since 2023, when protests over a petrol price hike also turned deadly. Reuters
Euronews
29-07-2025
- Business
- Euronews
Four killed and hundreds arrested in Angola fuel hike protests
At least four people have been killed and hundreds of others arrested after protests in Angola on Monday over a fuel price hike turned violent. The unrest started on Monday and involved looting and clashes with police after the government announced it was increasing the price of diesel to limit the strain of fuel subsidies on public finances. In response, local taxi associations in the capital Luanda raised their fares by 50% and began a three-day strike, when violence broke out. More than 500 people were arrested after shops and banks were vandalised and some businesses looted, a police spokesperson said. Police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues said there were still "pockets of disorder" in Luanda and that around 45 shops and 20 public buses had been vandalised. The ANATA taxi association distanced itself from the violent unrest but said its strike action would continue as planned. It "has become clear that the voice of the taxi drivers reflects the outcry of the Angolan people," ANATA said in a statement. Angola is one of Africa's largest oil producers, but the country does not have enough refineries to meet domestic demand, so it imports diesel and gasoline at high prices. It has seen gradual cuts to fuel subsidies since 2023, when protests over a petrol price hike also turned deadly.
The Citizen
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Unrest in Angolan capital after 4 killed in fuel hike protests
About 45 shops were vandalised, while 25 private vehicles and 20 public buses were damaged in Angola's capital, Luanda. A woman carries a mannequin as looting erupted in the Kalemba 2 district of Luanda on July 28, 2025 during a general strike in the taxi sector declared for three days to protest against the rising prices of fuel. Picture: AFP Shots rang out as Angola's capital was gripped by a second day of looting Tuesday, after at least four people were killed and scores arrested when violence erupted during a strike against a fuel price hike. Transport in Luanda remained suspended and shops closed after massive looting on Monday, the first day of the taxi drivers' strike to condemn the July 1 price rise, which had already led to several protests. Gunfire could be heard in central Luanda's Cazenga area, where people were seen taking food and other items from shops, an AFP reporter said. Security forces deployed as looting spreads Images shared on social media showed clashes in the Rocha Pinto suburb near the airport and security forces deploying to a street where burning rubbish bins barricaded a road in the Prenda area. The government's decision to raise heavily subsidised fuel prices from 300 to 400 kwanzas ($0.33 to $0.43) a litre in July has caused anger in Angola, one of Africa's top oil producers where many people live in poverty. 'We are tired … they must announce something for things to change … for us to live in better conditions,' a protester told Angola's TV Nzinga. 'Why do you make us suffer like this? How will we feed our children? The prices have to go down,' a woman said, addressing President Joao Lourenco. Police confirm deaths and mass arrests Police reported 'a few isolated incidents of disorder' early Tuesday and said people involved 'were repelled and continue to be repelled'. ALSO READ: Kenyan cop faces possible murder charge for rally bystander's death 'We currently report four deaths,' Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues told reporters in a briefing about Monday's violence. He did not specify how they occurred. Police rounded up 400 people overnight for suspected involvement in the unrest after arresting 100 on Monday, he said. About 45 shops were vandalised, while 25 private vehicles and 20 public buses were damaged, he said. Banks were also targeted. 'We continue to stress that our forces are on the streets, equipped with the necessary resources based on the threat level, responding where order has been restored to maintain it, and intervening where there are still disturbances to reestablish public order and peace,' he said. Looting AFP photographs on Monday showed people running off with items looted from shops, while images posted on social media showed large crowds of protesters and, separately, police pushing back groups of people. Local media reports said security forces had used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. A journalist in the city of Huambo, around 600 kilometres (370 miles) from Luanda, said there had also been looting and rioting there. The New Alliance of Taxi Drivers Association (ANATA) distanced itself from Monday's violence but said the three-day strike would continue. ALSO READ: FlySafair pilots and management meet to table new proposal It 'has become clear that the voice of the taxi drivers reflects the outcry of the Angolan people', the association said in a statement Tuesday. Around 2,000 people demonstrated against the fuel hike on Saturday, with protests also held the previous two weekends. Human Rights Watch said police had used excessive force in the July 12 protest, including firing tear gas and rubber bullets. Civic groups condemn repression, warn of social collapse In a joint statement on Monday, civil society groups condemned the July 19 arrest of one of the organisers of the protests, Osvaldo Sergio Correia Caholo. He was a 'victim of the oppression in Angola, where freedoms and fundamental guarantees are constantly being trampled upon', they said. The protests were a 'direct consequence' of the government's failure to address unemployment, high living costs and a decline in public services, the Uyele civic group said. It is 'urgent to understand that we are facing a serious symptom: the social exhaustion of a youth with no alternatives', it said in a statement. Lourenco's MPLA party has ruled Angola, which has a population of around 33 million, since its independence from Portugal in 1975. NOW READ: Kenya's president warns against bid to 'overthrow' govt by protests
Arab News
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
Unrest in Angolan capital after 4 killed in fuel hike protests
LUANDA: Shots rang out as Angola's capital was gripped by a second day of looting Tuesday, after at least four people were killed and scores arrested when violence erupted during a strike against a fuel price hike. Transport in Luanda remained suspended and shops closed after massive looting on Monday, the first day of the taxi drivers' strike to condemn the July 1 price rise, which had already led to several protests. Gunfire could be heard in central Luanda's Cazenga area, where people were seen taking food and other items from shops, an AFP reporter said. Images shared on social media showed clashes in the Rocha Pinto suburb near the airport and security forces deploying to a street where burning rubbish bins barricaded a road in the Prenda area. The government's decision to raise heavily subsidised fuel prices from 300 to 400 kwanzas ($0.33 to $0.43) a liter in July has caused anger in Angola, one of Africa's top oil producers where many people live in poverty. 'We are tired ... they must announce something for things to change ... for us to live in better conditions,' a protester told Angola's TV Nzinga. 'Why do you make us suffer like this? How will we feed our children? The prices have to go down,' a woman said, addressing President Joao Lourenco. Police reported 'a few isolated incidents of disorder' early Tuesday and said people involved 'were repelled and continue to be repelled.' 'We currently report four deaths,' Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues told reporters in a briefing about Monday's violence. He did not specify how they occurred. Police rounded up 400 people overnight for suspected involvement in the unrest after arresting 100 on Monday, he said. About 45 shops were vandalized, while 25 private vehicles and 20 public buses were damaged, he said. Banks were also targeted. 'We continue to stress that our forces are on the streets, equipped with the necessary resources based on the threat level, responding where order has been restored to maintain it, and intervening where there are still disturbances to reestablish public order and peace,' he said. AFP photographs on Monday showed people running off with items looted from shops, while images posted on social media showed large crowds of protesters and, separately, police pushing back groups of people. Local media reports said security forces had used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse crowds. A journalist in the city of Huambo, around 600 kilometers (370 miles) from Luanda, said there had also been looting and rioting there. The New Alliance of Taxi Drivers Association (ANATA) distanced itself from Monday's violence but said the three-day strike would continue. It 'has become clear that the voice of the taxi drivers reflects the outcry of the Angolan people,' the association said in a statement Tuesday. Around 2,000 people demonstrated against the fuel hike on Saturday, with protests also held the previous two weekends. Human Rights Watch said police had used excessive force in the July 12 protest, including firing tear gas and rubber bullets. In a joint statement on Monday, civil society groups condemned the July 19 arrest of one of the organizers of the protests, Osvaldo Sergio Correia Caholo. He was a 'victim of the oppression in Angola, where freedoms and fundamental guarantees are constantly being trampled upon,' they said. The protests were a 'direct consequence' of the government's failure to address unemployment, high living costs and a decline in public services, the Uyele civic group said. It is 'urgent to understand that we are facing a serious symptom: the social exhaustion of a youth with no alternatives,' it said in a statement. Lourenco's MPLA party has ruled Angola, which has a population of around 33 million, since its independence from Portugal in 1975.
