LUANDA, July 29– A large-scale taxi drivers’ strike broke out in Luanda, the capital of Angola, on Monday, triggering widespread traffic disruptions and unrest as drivers protested rising fuel prices and recent transport policy changes.
The strike, organized by multiple organizations, is expected to continue until Wednesday. Several parts of the city were reported to experience disturbances, including blocked roads, vandalized vehicles, and isolated incidents of looting.
In a statement released Monday, the Luanda provincial government noted that while some taxi associations had initially endorsed the strike, they later engaged in dialogue with authorities and agreed to suspend their participation, expressing a willingness to resolve grievances through negotiation.
The statement said that in the past few hours, unidentified individuals or groups without legal representation had seized the moment to incite violence and intimidation, contributing to the unrest and public disorder.
The Luanda provincial government strongly condemns all forms of destructive behavior, the statement read, adding that security forces have been deployed to restore order and ensure public safety.
Authorities called on the public, especially taxi operators and those in the transportation sector, to refrain from further disruption.
The strike follows a series of fuel price hikes and fare adjustments that have stirred mounting public discontent. On July 4, the price of diesel in Angola increased from 300 to 400 Angolan kwanzas (about 0.33 to 0.44 U.S. dollars) per liter.
On July 7, authorities raised collective taxi fares from 200 to 300 kwanzas per trip and city bus fares from 150 to 200 kwanzas.
Since early July, Luanda has witnessed several weekend protests as citizens voice growing dissatisfaction with rising fuel costs and living expenses. (Xinhua)
