Luanda: At least 22 people have died in protests against drastic fuel price hikes in Angola, the government confirmed. Nearly 200 people were injured, Interior Minister Manuel Homem said. The police reported clashes between demonstrators and security forces in several locations, and there was looting and damage to cars.
According to Ghana News Agency, since Monday, Angolans in the capital Luanda and other parts of the country have been protesting the higher prices, which the government raised by around 30% at the beginning of July. The government justified the price increase with the need to reduce the national debt. Until now, fuel has been heavily subsidized in the oil-rich country.
More than 1,200 demonstrators have been detained in the past three days, said police spokesman Mateus de Lemos. Although Angola, with a population of 37 million, is one of the continent's most important oil producers, the new fuel prices remain high compared to the average income of Angolans. A litre of diesel now costs 400 kwanza ($0.54), while around half of all Angolans have to get by on less than $3.61 a day, according to World Bank.
