Looting and vandalism erupted Monday in Angola’s capital, Luanda, as taxi drivers launched a strike over soaring fuel prices. The government increased heavily subsidised gasoline prices from 300 to 400 kwanzas per litre on July 1, sparking widespread unrest. AFP images showed looters fleeing shops amid chaotic scenes, while social media captured large protests and police clashing with demonstrators.
One viral video revealed a protester trying to set fire to a billboard displaying President João Lourenço’s image. Authorities in Luanda condemned the violence, describing “acts of intimidation, attacks on vehicles, and destruction of public and private property.”
Local media reported that youths in Camama, near the capital, burned tyres and attacked buses and private cars. Saturday saw around 2,000 people rallying against the fuel hike, continuing protests from previous weekends.
The fuel price rise comes amid Angola’s struggle to balance subsidies with economic pressures in Africa’s second-largest oil producer. President Lourenço’s ruling MPLA party has governed the Portuguese-speaking nation since independence in 1975.
The strike and violence reflect deep frustration with rising living costs and growing economic hardship for many Angolans. As anger simmers, the government faces mounting pressure to address public grievances and restore calm to the capital.