Protests in Angola. Dozens of Murdered, more than 1,200 Arrested
Featured image: protest and clashes in Luanda, Angola. Source: Social media.
At least 22 people have been murdered, hundreds injured, and more than 1,200 arrested in some of the largest protests Angola has seen since the end of its civil war in 2002. The immediate trigger was the decision to cut fuel subsidies, raising the diesel prices per liter. The unrest broke out on Monday when minibus and taxi drivers launched a three-day strike and afterwards thousands of people joined demonstrations in the capital.
The army was deployed, according to the government, “to restore order”, but their task was other: to brutally repress the Angolan people who are rebelling justly. The police and military forces started to shot with live ammunition against the protesters, causing hundreds of injured people and murdering dozens.
The Angolan people are protesting firmly the the anti-people’s government’s decision, which decided to raise subsidized fuel prices heavily from 300 to 400 kwanzas ($0.33 to $0.44) per liter. The protest expanded throughout the city, reaching the Rocha Pinto suburb near to the airport and blocking many roads.
Angola is one of Africa’s top oil producers, but the people are living in absolute poverty. Many human rights organizations protested against the repressive forces brutality, which is not new. On July 12 there was a protest, due to the already rising fuel prices, poor public services and lack of basic school infrastructure, where the police injured several protesters.
Despite the harsh repression by the repressive forces, the Angolan people have not retreated and there are numerous videos and reports of the clashes and resistance actions against those:
