LUANDA, July 28 — Hundreds of people marched through the streets of Luanda, the capital of Angola, on Saturday, voicing strong opposition to soaring fuel prices and the rising cost of living.
Protesters sought to deliver a petition to the president, demanding a reversal of the latest fuel price hike.
The demonstration was part of a series of recent protests triggered by the government’s gradual removal of fuel subsidies — a policy introduced in 2023 as part of broader economic reforms.
Public discontent has been growing in recent weeks, with citizens repeatedly taking to the streets to denounce surging fuel and transportation costs.
The most recent adjustment took effect on July 4, increasing the price of diesel from 300 kwanzas (about 0.33 U.S. dollars) to 400 kwanzas per liter.
Since June 2023, gasoline prices have increased by 87.5 percent, while diesel prices have risen by over 120 percent, according to the Petroleum Derivatives Regulatory Institute.
Adilson Manuel, spokesperson for the protest movement, warned that many families are “losing their purchasing power,” and accused the government of ignoring the population’s economic hardships.
The National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (ANATA) has announced a nationwide taxi strike for July 28, 29, and 30.
“The strike was a sovereign decision of the class, based on the real difficulties faced daily by thousands of workers in the sector”, said ANATA in an announcement. (Xinhua)
