Angola Erupts in Protest Over Fuel Price Hike and Government Crackdown
By Africa News Alert (ANA) – June 21, 2023 | Luanda, Angola
A nationwide wave of protests has engulfed Angola following a controversial government decision to slash fuel subsidies—an economic reform that has sparked widespread public outrage and accusations of excessive force by state security forces.
In the capital city of Luanda and across several provinces, thousands of citizens many of them youth and informal workers such as motorcycle taxi drivers—took to the streets over the weekend to demand relief from soaring fuel prices. Protesters carried placards reading “We are hungry” and “Down with misery,” reflecting a deep sense of frustration with worsening living conditions.
Police Respond with Force
Angolan police responded with a heavy-handed crackdown. According to police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues, 32 protesters were arrested in Luanda and 55 in Benguela. Authorities alleged that some demonstrators attempted to set up roadblocks using burning tires and fuel containers.
But eyewitnesses and protest organizers dispute these claims. Activist Dito Dali, a leading voice in Luanda’s protests, told ANA that the demonstrations were peaceful until police unleashed tear gas, batons, and in some cases, live ammunition.
“We were peaceful. The police used violence without provocation,” Dali said. “We have documented injuries and abuses, and we’ve shared them on social media. Only our discipline prevented more deaths unlike in Huambo, where five people were killed.”
The Price of Reform
The Angolan government’s decision, backed by the World Bank and the IMF, raised the price of gasoline from 165 kwanza (€0.25) to 300 kwanza (€0.48) per liter—a staggering 80% increase. Although intended to reduce a state subsidy burden of €3.2 billion in 2022, the reform has disproportionately affected the poor and working class.
Despite being a top oil-producing country, Angola relies heavily on imported refined fuels due to insufficient local refining capacity. This has made the subsidy cuts particularly painful for those who depend on fuel for daily survival.
Struggles on the Streets
Street vendors like Custodia dos Santos are among those hardest hit.
“Life is unbearable. Prices go up, and we’re still harassed daily by security forces,” she told ANA. “We joined the taxi drivers because our livelihoods are under threat.”
Informal workers across Luanda report frequent detentions and forced bribes just to remain in business. The crackdown on street trading has intensified in tandem with economic hardship, creating a volatile mix of desperation and defiance.
Crackdown on Civil Society
The unrest comes amid broader concerns about democratic backsliding. A proposed law to tighten state control over NGOs has further alarmed civil society. Human rights advocates argue the legislation is designed to muzzle dissenting voices and eliminate non-government-aligned organizations.
“This is a license to silence independent organizations,” said Guilherme Neves, head of the human rights NGO Associacao Maos Livres. “If this law passes, our work will be nearly impossible.”
The OMUNGA Association, known for its rural development initiatives, echoed this concern, labeling the bill a tool of authoritarianism.
“The government wants to control every aspect of civic life,” OMUNGA said in a public statement. “This is totalitarian in nature.”
The Beginning of Resistance
Organizers say the weekend protests mark the beginning of a sustained resistance campaign against economic inequality and authoritarian governance.
“They’ll have to get used to hearing our voices,” Dito Dali declared. “This is just the beginning. We will not remain silent.”
As Angola grapples with the ripple effects of economic reform, the cries from Luanda’s streets are clear: the people demand not just affordability, but dignity, justice, and a government that listens.
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