In a protest against a rise in fuel prices in the capital of Angola, at least four people were killed, and hundreds were detained, according to police.
The government’s decision earlier this month to increase the price of diesel, which caused significant increases in the fares for minibus taxis, a significant mode of transportation for many Angolans, caused the protests to start on Monday.
In the Cazenga neighborhood in central Luanda, where people were seen removing food and other goods from shops, gunfire could be heard.
Conflicts broke out in the Prenda and Rocha Pinto neighborhoods near the airport, according to social media images.
In connection with rioting, vandalism, and shop looting, police said in a statement on Tuesday that hundreds of arrests had been made. Roads and cars were blocked, and vehicles were damaged.
On Tuesday, Luanda’s transportation system was in effect but stores were still closed.
Angola, one of Africa’s top oil producers, is angered by the government’s decision to increase heavily subsidised fuel prices from 300 to 400 kwanzas ($0.33 to $0.44) per litre, where many people are living in poverty.
The Minibus taxi associations launched a three-day strike to protest the move, which started on Monday and increased their fares by up to 50%.
We are tired, a protester told Angola’s TV Nzinga, “We must announce something for things to change… for us to live in better conditions.”
Why do you cause this kind of suffering for us? What will our children eat? When speaking to President Joao Lourenco, a woman said, “The prices have to go down.”
In a press release about the violence on Monday, deputy commissioner Mateus Rodrigues claimed that the police “currently report four deaths.” He didn’t specify how they happened.
According to Rodrigues, 400 people were detained overnight by police for suspected involvement in the unrest after 100 were detained on Monday. He added that 25 private vehicles and 20 public buses suffered damage, while 45 shops were vandalized. Additionally, banks were the target.
Since the announcement of the price increase for diesel on July 1st, protests have been abating.
In a July 12 protest, police, according to Human Rights Watch, allegedly used tear gas and rubber bullets excessively.
Source: Aljazeera
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