Luanda, Angola — On Monday, July 28, 2025, a three-day strike initiated by minibus taxi operators rapidly escalated into the largest anti-government protests Angola has seen in recent years. The unrest was triggered by a government decree earlier in the month that raised the price of diesel by approximately 30–33%, from 300 to 400 kwanzas per liter. This increase is part of President João Lourenço’s IMF-backed strategy to phase out costly fuel subsidies.
Minibus taxis, which serve as the backbone of urban transportation, responded by raising fares by up to 50%, sparking widespread frustration among low-income commuters. What began as a sectoral strike quickly transformed into mass protests as thousands of citizens joined taxi operators. The demonstrations soon spiraled into violence, looting, vandalism, and direct confrontations with authorities. At least four people, including a police officer, were killed during clashes, and law enforcement arrested over 500 individuals within 48 hours—400 of them on the first night alone. Damage was extensive, with about 45 shops vandalized, 20 public buses and 25 private vehicles destroyed, and banks and infrastructure targeted by angry mobs.
According to National Police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues, order had been restored in most parts of Luanda by Tuesday, July 29, although “pockets of disorder” persisted. The authorities announced that arrests would continue and urged citizens to report criminal incidents through social media, local police stations, or directly to street officers. Public sentiment, however, remained volatile. Local activist Laura Macedo, quoted by the BBC, stated, “The fuel price issue is just the last straw... People are fed up. Hunger is rife, and the poor are becoming miserable.” Human Rights Watch condemned the authorities for their earlier crackdowns on protests, including one on July 12, citing excessive use of force against largely peaceful demonstrators.
The diesel price hike is part of a broader economic shift as Angola phases out fuel subsidies under IMF pressure. These subsidies had previously accounted for about 4% of the national GDP. Despite being one of Africa’s top oil producers, Angola relies heavily on imported petroleum due to inadequate domestic refining capacity, making local fuel prices highly sensitive to global market shifts. The ongoing unrest reflects mounting public dissatisfaction with the ruling MPLA party, which has governed since independence in 1975. Citizens increasingly criticize government mismanagement, corruption, and the failure to address soaring living costs.
A 2024 report by the African Development Bank had already warned that rising energy, food, and commodity prices could trigger social unrest across the continent—a warning now realized in Luanda’s upheaval. Although the government claims that calm has returned to most areas, security forces remain on high alert, and arrests continue in unrest-prone neighborhoods. Protest leaders and civil society groups have vowed continued resistance, calling for further demonstrations, boycotts, and fuel price rollbacks, while demanding broader reforms ahead of the 2027 elections.
The crisis in Luanda underscores deepening discontent over economic hardship and governance. As fuel subsidies disappear and transportation costs soar, ordinary Angolans—already burdened by hunger and inflation—are being pushed beyond their limits. The government’s forceful response risks inflaming tensions further, setting the stage for continued unrest in the months ahead.