According to Manuel Homem, Angola’s interior minister, protests against the country’s increased petrol prices have resulted in at least 22 fatalities and close to 200 injuries.
In response to the government’s decision earlier this month to raise the price of gasoline by 30%, which resulted in significant increases in the fees of minibus taxis—a crucial mode of transportation for many Angolans—protests broke out on Monday.
Hundreds of arrests were made in relation to rioting, shop looting, and destruction, police said in a statement on Tuesday.
Roads were obstructed, busses and cars were destroyed.
Shops in the city, Luanda, were shuttered Tuesday and transportation was still delayed.
Angola has a huge national debt as a result of its extensive gasoline subsidies.
The Angolan government justified the increase in petrol prices by stating that it was necessary to lower the debt.
Promotion
However, since 2023, when a rise in the price of gasoline also led to fatal protests, the country in Southern Africa has been progressively eliminating fuel subsidies.
Over 1,200 protesters have been arrested in the last three days, according to police spokeswoman Mateus de Lemos.
