Angola: Fuel Rage Turns Fatal in Luanda

Edited by: Fatimatou babdin

What began as scattered demonstrations over soaring fuel prices has erupted into one of the deadliest civilian uprisings Angola has seen in years. At least 22 people have been killed in Luanda after days of mounting unrest, as protesters clashed with police across the capital’s densely populated neighborhoods. The anger is directed not only at inflation, but at a government widely accused of mismanagement and indifference. Burning barricades, looted shops, and clouds of tear gas have turned parts of the city into flashpoints of desperation.

The crisis deepened when workers at the state-run oil giant Sonangol joined the protests, halting operations at key refineries and choking fuel supply further. With Angola’s economy tethered to oil, the strike has amplified the shockwaves and intensified pressure on President João Lourenço. Political analysts warn that if the government fails to respond swiftly, the unrest could ignite a broader reckoning in a nation already grappling with youth unemployment, corruption, and a fragile post-war social order.