JAKARTA - The government of Angola said the death toll from demonstrations of protests over rising fuel prices increased to 22 people.
Riots erupted on Monday as the minibus taxi association launched a three-day strike against the government's decision to raise diesel prices by a third, as part of efforts to reduce expensive subsidies and strengthen public finances.
The looting, vandalism and clashes with police began in the capital Luanda, then spread to other provinces.
Reported by Reuters, President Joao Lourenco's Cabinet met on Wednesday, July 30 and received the latest information about the security situation and police response.
The presidential statement stated that 22 deaths, 197 injured, and 1,214 arrests.
A total of 66 shops and 25 vehicles were damaged, and several supermarkets and warehouses were looted.
Angola has gradually removed fuel subsidies since 2023, when rising gasoline prices have also sparked deadly protests, driven by the International Monetary Fund and various other parties.
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Subsidy reached 4% of last year's gross domestic product (GDP), according to the South Africa's oil-producing country's finance minister.
Investors are watching the effort to eliminate subsidies gradually.
Pieter Niesten, manager of a growing market debt portfolio in Neuberger Berman, told Reuters fuel subsidies are expected to reach 1.8% of GDP this year, which contributes to fiscal pressure.
"Investors and international financial institutions view subsidy reform as evidence of Angola's commitment to structural adjustments that are difficult," he said.
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