Intel Brief: Protests in Angola over diesel price hike turn deadly

casper4871
Jul 31
3 min read

Date: 31/07/2025 (12:00 GMT+2)

Where?

Angola; Luanda; Icolo e Bengo; Huambo

What happened?

On 04/07/2025, Angolan authorities announced a 33% increase in the price of diesel, the most commonly used fuel for vehicles in Angola - the third price increase of 2025. The price will rise from 300 to around 400 kwanzas per liter. The new price amounts to €0,38 per liter. For context, the average salary in Angola equals €66,50 monthly. (€1=1050 kwanza per 31/07/2025).
This decision prompted minibus taxis, a common method of transportation for Angolans, to increase their prices by as much as 50%. This price hike also increased the price of staple ingredients, which need to be transported by road.
The protests initially began as a three-day strike by taxi drivers on 28/07/2025 against rising petrol prices. However, by 29/07/2025, the protests had grown into one of the most widespread waves of protest the country has seen in recent history.
The protests mostly took place in the capital, Luanda. Shops were looted, and people set up roadblocks in the city. The provinces of Icolo e Bengo and Huambo reported similar disturbances. Reportedly, people chanted “down with the dictatorship”, as they complained about hunger, oppression and poverty.
President João Lourenço dismissed the protesters’ concerns, saying that protesters are using petrol prices as a pretext to undermine the government.
Reportedly, the police responded with force. In videos circulating on the internet, police can be seen en masse, in riot gear, firing rubber bullets but struggling to contain the uprising. On 29/07/2025, at least four deaths were reported.
On 30/07/2025, protests continued. The Angolan government later reported that the total number of victims killed had risen to at least 22. More than 1200 have reportedly been arrested.
As of 31/07/2025, most major shops, banks and other businesses remain closed.

Analysis

What began as a three-day strike by taxi drivers quickly escalated into one of the largest popular uprisings Angola experienced in recent years. The 33% increase in the price of diesel, the most widely used fuel in Angola, not only affected transportation costs but also drove up the prices of basic goods delivered by road. With an average monthly wage of around 70,000 kwanzas (€66.50 per 31/07/2025), many Angolans are unable to deal with such price hikes, especially for essential items like food and transport.
However, the protests reflect more than just frustration over this specific price hike. They quickly broadened to encompass a range of grievances and evolved into a wider critique of the Angolan government. Many took to the streets not only over economic hardship, but also out of growing discontent with the ruling MPLA party, which has held power for nearly five decades. The very nature of the fuel price hike is emblematic of this: Angola is one of Africa’s largest oil producers, yet lacks refineries to match domestic demand and therefore remains dependent on imported diesel.
The situation in Angola reflects a broader trend across several mid-tier African economies, where the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, global inflation, and domestic crackdowns on dissent have created a more difficult political climate and made everyday life increasingly challenging for ordinary citizens. This led to unrest, not just in Angola. Earlier this year, in June and July, Kenya saw massive protests following the death of a popular blogger in police custody. However, these protests reflected a widespread frustration related to police brutality, economic inequality, corruption, and a perceived erosion of democratic freedoms. Ghana and Nigeria have likewise faced protests, each shaped by their own mix of political discontent coupled with economic troubles.

Conclusion

The current wave of protests in Angola started relatively small but grew into one of the biggest waves of civil unrest the country has faced in recent years. While a fuel price hike was the direct cause of the protests, this period of unrest is symbolic of more than just that: it reflects widespread grievances about proper governance in the country and frustration with stagnating living conditions.

For now, the situation in the country remains unpredictable. President Lourenço’s response that protesters are using petrol prices as a pretext to undermine the government signals that he might not be willing to make any concessions. If the government refuses to address the concerns behind the protests, the unrest is likely to continue, further challenging Angola’s stability.