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At least 22 people have been killed in violent protests across Angola following a sharp fuel price hike, authorities said Wednesday, marking a dramatic escalation from the previous day’s death toll of four.
The unrest, triggered by the government’s decision to slash diesel subsidies, has led to widespread clashes, looting, and mass arrests, with tensions spreading from the capital, Luanda, to other provinces.
The protests began Monday after minibus taxi unions launched a three-day strike in response to the government’s move to raise diesel prices by one-third—a measure aimed at curbing costly subsidies and stabilizing public finances.
The demonstrations quickly turned violent, with reports of looting, vandalism, and deadly confrontations between protesters and police. President João Lourenço’s cabinet held an emergency meeting Wednesday to assess the security crisis and coordinate law enforcement’s response.
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Angola, a major oil producer, has been gradually phasing out fuel subsidies, which last year accounted for 4% of GDP, according to the finance minister. Investors are closely tracking the reforms, viewing them as a test of Angola’s commitment to fiscal discipline.
