At least 22 people have been k!lled since Monday, July 28, following days of violent unrest in Angola, the country’s interior minister has confirmed.
The clashes, which began as peaceful demonstrations, spiraled into deadly chaos after a fuel price hike triggered a nationwide protest.
Gunshots echoed across Luanda and other major cities as residents clashed with security forces.
Shops were looted, roads blocked, and lives lost all during a strike organized by taxi drivers demanding relief from soaring fuel costs.
Interior Minister Manuel Homem described the situation as “deeply unfortunate” and expressed regret during a press briefing.
“We regret 22 de@ths, including one police officer,” he said on Tuesday during a Council of Ministers meeting chaired by President Joao Lourenco.
The violence began on Monday, the first day of the taxi strike. It was triggered by a government decision to raise fuel prices on July 1.
While Angola is known for its oil wealth, a significant part of its population lives below the poverty line, making even slight price increases a heavy burden.
According to government officials, the chaos resulted in nearly 200 injuries. Furthermore, over 1,200 people were arrested in connection with the protests.
“The number of detainees has crossed the 1,200 mark,” Homem disclosed.
In addition to the loss of lives, public and private properties were severely affected.
A total of 66 shops were damaged as looters took advantage of the situation to break into supermarkets and warehouses.
“There was massive looting in which people raided supermarkets and warehouses, making off with food and other supplies,” Homem confirmed.
Meanwhile, local residents have started counting their losses. Several shop owners have reported being left with no goods to sell, further complicating an already struggling economy.
The ruling MPLA party, which has been in power since Angola gained independence in 1975, now faces pressure to restore order while addressing the concerns of its citizens.
Moreover, the government has yet to release an official plan to manage the fuel price crisis or compensate victims of the violence.
