ANGOLA BURNING: PROTEST ON 33% DIESEL TAX HIKE

Written by Michael Thervil

ANGOLA BURNING: PROTEST ON 33% DIESEL TAX HIKE Photo by Borralho Ndomba

[Angola protest on diesel tax] since Monday of this week, protests and riots have been ensuing in the African country of Angola. The reason for the mass protest and riots is centered around the fact that the Angolan government decided it would raise the tax on diesel fuel to roughly 33%. This 33% tax hike on Angolan residents and businesses that heavily rely on diesel fuel from everything from construction, to agriculture, and the most significant sector – transportation. With the Angolan government's decision to raise diesel fuel to 33%, it did more than anger Angolans – it prompted taxi cab drivers to start a 3-day strike within the entire country.

Thousands of Angolans from taxi drivers to non-taxi drivers took to the streets to protest in the capital of Angola Luanda and the local provinces of Huambo and Lcolo e Bengo. but when the Angolan national police got involved that’s when the clashes became fatal. For most Angolans, the protest was staged to show their frustration with the Angolan government and its decision to raise taxes on diesel fuel. For other Angolans, this was the time to take advantage of anonymity and start looting stores and businesses. Protestors have even constructed makeshift road blocks in protest of the diesel tax hike. For the Angolan government, the reasoning behind the raising of the diesel tax to 33% was to curb fuel subsidies although Angola is classified as an oil-rich nation.

A local activist by the name of Laura Macedo stated to Press that:

“The fuel price issue is just the last straw that has reignited widespread public discontent... People are fed up. Hunger is rife, and the poor are becoming miserable

The raising of diesel to 33% has not only affected taxi cab drivers and other sectors within the transportation industry, but it has proved to have adverse trickle-down effects on the cost of everyday items for the average Angolan. In response to this former minister of defense and now president of Angola João Lourenço stated the following:

“Even after the increase, the price of diesel in Angola remains around 40 US cents [per liter], and there are not many countries in the world with prices this low”.

Although this is a true statement, it should go without pointing to the fact that the average Angolan makes roughly 70,000 Kwanzas a month which translates into $75.00 a month. From the perspective of João Lourenço, Angolans that are partaking in the protests and looting are doing nothing more than violently attempting to undermine the Anglian government and his leadership. With over 40 and some say 50 people killed between civilian and police clashes and another 1,200 people injured, many geopolitical analysts are wondering if 71-year-old president João Lourenço is competent enough to run the country.

It should be known that Angola was considered the second largest oil producer in the sub-Saharan African region after Nigeria. Its daily oil output is estimated to be roughly 1.1 million barrels per day although as of late its production outputs has fallen slightly.