Fuel price hike ignites deadly protests

Four people have been killed and more than 500 have been arrested in Angola after a taxi drivers' strike turned into large protests, reports africanews. A three-day strike was called on Monday in Luanda in response to a government decision in July to raise diesel prices by 30%, resulting in higher taxi fares. Thousands of people joined the drivers, escalating the strike into the largest anti-government protests in Angola in recent years. Police used tear gas and smoke grenades against demonstrators, as public buses and private cars were destroyed and more than 40 stores were vandalised, according to local newspaper Novo Jornal. The price increase is part of President João Lourenço's plan to wind down fuel subsidies in the oil-rich nation, spurred on by the IMF. However, the move has sparked fears that not only fuel but also food prices will rise, as transportation costs are passed on to consumers. In 2024, the African Development Bank warned that the rising cost of energy, food and other necessities in several African countries, including Angola, could trigger social unrest.