Hundreds of arrests during deadly fuel demonstrations

Police in Angola said four people were killed and 500 people were arrested after the demonstrations in the Luanda capital.

What started as a three -day strike on the part of taxi drivers against gasoline prices has grown into one of the most common and devastating waves that the country has seen in recent years.

On Monday, thousands of people joined the demonstrations in the capital where roads were blocked, shops were looted, cars, as well as clashes between protesters and police.

The pockets of the protests continued in Luanda on Tuesday, as well as further contractions with the police and more robbery.

“The problem for the value of the fuel is just the last point that has arisen again widespread public dissatisfaction … People are bored. The hunger is full and the poor become unhappy,” said the BBC, a well -known local activist Laura Maceda.

The strike was caused by taxi operators in response to the government’s decision to increase the price of diesel by more than 33%, the measure made in early July as part of the plans to remove subsidies for fuel in the rich oil nation.

This not only led to higher tariffs for urban angles, which rely on taxi, but also increased the price of basic food and other bases – as suppliers that transport these goods on the road, transmit their additional costs to consumers.

But President Joao Lurenso rejected such problems, stating that the participants of the action use gasoline prices as a reason to undermine the government.

“Even after the increase, the price of diesel in Angola remains about 40 cents in the US (per liter), and there are not many countries in the world,” he said in a recent interview with CNN Portugal.

The average monthly wage in Angola is only 70,000 Quonza (75; £ 56), and Promise to the Presidency to increase this Up to 100,000 Kwanzas did not come true.

As the disappointments spilled on Monday, the groups of the rally participants took to the streets in different parts of Luanda, chanting fuel prices, almost five decades of control of MPLA management parties and expressing their frustration in the modern state of the countries.

State media in Angola came under great criticism on social networks for continuing their regular programming and not presenting demonstrations.

By Monday evening, MPLA warned young people not to protest and stated that these “vandalism is intentionally intended to tarnish and interfere with the joyful celebration” the 50th anniversary of Angola’s independence.

The local authorities in Luanda also made a public statement on Monday, expressing “deep concern” about the events they called “vandalism violations and actions and actions.”

According to the statement, the strike was initially announced by taxi organizations, was canceled after the talks with the authorities.

However, it states that “groups of unspecified persons, without a legitimate representation of the taxi sector, resumed a call for strikes, facilitating intimidation and violence, including attacks on vehicles that extend to the public public roads, even those who do not provide taxi services.”

Most of these protests had a spontaneous nature.

Anata Anat, the main taxi association, respected on Monday’s violence, but promised to continue the three -day strike, saying that “the taxi driver’s voice reflects the resume of the Angolan people.”

As of Tuesday afternoon, large shops, banks and other enterprises remain closed. Some civil servants have returned to work, but many people who work in private companies remain at home by advice on their employers.

Police warns that they patrol the streets and continue to “intervene where there are still violations” to “restore public order and peace”.