Deadly protests over fuel price hikes in Angola have killed at least 22 people and led to more than 1,000 arrests, with the UN now calling for restraint and investigations into possible rights violations by security forces, as stated by the organization. What started Monday as a strike by minibus taxi drivers angry about a one-third jump in diesel prices quickly spread nationwide. It’s become one of Angola’s worst protest waves in years.
The trouble began when the government raised fuel prices to cut subsidies. Taxi drivers went on strike first, but the demonstrations soon grew and spread across the country. Things turned violent fast, with reports of looting and clashes between protesters and police, especially in the capital, Luanda.
The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) asked Angolan authorities Thursday to investigate the deaths and reports of heavy-handed tactics during the protests. Spokesperson Thameen Al-Kheetan said video footage suggests security forces used live bullets and tear gas on protesters. “This points to unnecessary and excessive force,” he said, adding that while some demonstrators got violent, authorities must still follow international human rights rules.
Government officials said nearly 200 people were hurt and at least one police officer was among the dead. Shops and cars were damaged, gunfire was heard in parts of Luanda, and emergency services couldn’t keep up. Many businesses stayed closed Thursday, and hospitals struggled to treat all the injured people.
The UN said that while authorities need to keep order, they must protect human rights while doing it. Al-Kheetan called for peaceful protests and said all rights violations must be investigated. The UN reminded everyone about the importance of protecting basic freedoms, including the rights to life, free speech, and peaceful assembly.
