Spanish
Luanda.– The death toll in Angola rose to 22, while 197 injuries and 1,214 arrests were recorded for alleged acts of vandalism and looting following the protests sparked by the increase in fuel prices, official sources reported this Wednesday.
“The current security and public order situation in Angola, particularly in Luanda, is calm. The defense and security forces remain fully mobilized to ensure the maintenance of stability,” declared Angola's Interior Minister, Manuel Homem, during a press conference.
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The minister indicated that 64 commercial establishments were looted and material damage was caused to public transport and private vehicles. The acts of vandalism began last Monday amid a total taxi strike in the capital Luanda and other cities of the country, called to protest against the increase in the price of diesel. Videos posted on social media show that in the city of Malanje (east), capital of the province of the same name, looting of businesses was also recorded, something that extended until this Tuesday in the province of Huambo (center). The strike, called for the 28th, 29th and 30th of July, was cancelled on the night of the 28th by the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (Anata), which condemned the violent acts, after at least four people died and several were injured during the first day of protests. The police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the protesters, although local media also reported the use of live ammunition. At the beginning of the month, the Angolan government raised the price of diesel, the most used fuel for public transport, from 300 kwanzas (0.29 euros) to 400 kwanzas (0.37 euros) per liter, which represents an increase of more than 30%. Since then, the Angolan capital has been the scene of protests for three consecutive Saturdays - the past 12th, 17th and 26th - dubbed the "Movement Against the Rise in Fuel Prices". Two weeks ago, the organization Human Rights Watch (HRW) denounced that the Police made an "excessive use" of force and carried out 17 arbitrary arrests when dispersing the protest on July 12th. According to HRW, agents fired tear gas and rubber bullets "unnecessarily," in addition to assaulting protesters, which caused several injuries. "Angolans should be able to peacefully protest against government policies without being met with excessive force or other violations of their fundamental rights," said Ashwanee Budoo-Scholtz, deputy Africa director at HRW, in a statement. Although some reforms have been promoted to adapt police action to international standards, the organization warned that abuses by security forces persist
