A sharp rise in diesel prices has triggered deadly unrest in Luanda, Angola’s capital, where authorities confirmed four deaths and over 500 arrests following two days of chaos.
Tensions flared Monday after the government hiked diesel prices by more than 30%, a move that led to significant fare increases among minibus taxis, the most relied-upon mode of transport for ordinary Angolans. The price spike quickly ignited public anger and spilled into mass demonstrations across the city.
According to a police statement released Tuesday, the protests descended into rioting, vandalism, and looting, with roads barricaded and multiple vehicles, including cars and buses, damaged during the unrest.
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Police spokesperson Mateus de Lemos Rodrigues confirmed the fatalities and said, “order had now been restored in most parts of the city.”
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This latest surge of protests follows earlier demonstrations this month against the fuel hikes, where Human Rights Watch accused Angolan security forces of using excessive force against largely peaceful demonstrators.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola, which has governed since the country’s independence from Portugal in 1975, has long faced criticism for its crackdown on dissent. Security forces have often been accused of suppressing protests through intimidation and violence, even when demonstrations have remained nonviolent.
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