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The Hungry Refuse to Be Muted – Unveiling Deadly Uprisings in Oil-Rich Angola
Locals in parts of the Angolan capital continue to be fearful to discuss publicly about July’s events, when uprisings paralyzed urban life and disturbances shook several regions.
Starting out as a call among taxi drivers to protest increased petrol costs evolved into multiple days of conflict, resulting in at least numerous casualties and thousands of arrests.
Transport routes were barricaded with burning tyres, stores got raided, and confrontations erupted between protesters and security forces.
It was one of the most significant outbreaks of dissent since the end of the national strife in 2002.
Underlying Causes: Economic Hardship and Imbalance
Preceding petroleum-endowed Angola commemorating 50 years of independence from Portugal, the demonstrations highlighted continuing apprehensions about need and wealth gaps.
In neighborhoods where protests were strongest, scarce residents are prepared to speak openly, worried about retaliation or persecution due to widespread detentions during and after the unrest.
"Events might have escalated excessively, but we needed to be this vocal to alert those in power," commented a 24-year-old street vendor from Luanda who wished to stay unidentified.
After exiting school before completing secondary education, he now offers beverages along one of the capital's busiest roads to provide for his family.
He is countless people grappling to survive amid towering buildings funded by petroleum income.
Lack of Opportunities for the Young Drives Resentment
According to him, joining the opening stage of rallies was a way to express that "we can be heard" and that individuals in his situation are entitled to a share of the wealth of a country that is "prosperous for elites, but miserable for so many of us."
Lack of employment for the youth has been a key factor of public demonstrations in this youthful country where the middle age is below 16.
Unemployment among young adults is at 54%, according to government statistics. Out of 18,000,000 young people of employment age, only 3,000,000 have jobs in the formal sector – indicating they receive consistent pay and fulfill fiscal duties.
Within major municipalities, numerous unemployed youth who are no longer in school highlight the state's difficulty in meeting their hopes.
"I just vend on the street when I can earn sufficient funds to buy the soft drinks," the peddler remarked. "There are months when I have zero income because business is so sluggish. I and countless others live like this, and nobody pays attention us. That’s why we must speak out."
Expert Analysis
Local expert Gilson Lázaro was not surprised by the summer protests. He argues that those at the core of the demonstrations were the "impoverished."
"They represent young people, the majority, who have no alternatives but their lives. That is why they took to the streets without fear," he observed.
The demonstrations arose without planning in some of Luanda's more populous and poorer neighborhoods, where some residents lack access to fundamental amenities as well as other critical facilities.
Gradually, protesters moved into the capital's main avenues, causing disorder and "exposing a public concern that has long existed but which the leadership has opted to neglect," according to the sociologist.
"For some time, Angola has been moving into a profound social, economic, and, primarily, political legitimacy crisis. The primary reason is the faulty way the country has been administered since the end of the civil war in 2002," Dr. Lázaro commented.
Government Response
The Angolan government has taken a opposing stance.
An authority representative did not respond to a request for input on the events and their consequences, but in a official declaration, President João Lourenço made his views clear.
He denounced the protests as "acts committed by unaccountable people, directed by disloyal national and foreign organizations through digital networks, bringing grief, damage of government and civilian possessions, reduced access to critical products and support, and job losses for Angolans."
Fiscal Issues
Despite repeated promises to diversify its economy, Angola remains reliant upon oil and gas, which are by far the country's main exports as well as the major origin of government revenue.
"Raw materials are beneficial, but the issue lies in how earnings are used," local financial expert Francisco Paulo stated. "Should the nation emulate examples like Norway or Saudi Arabia, using oil wealth to enhance non-oil sectors and train its workforce, it would be a blessing. Unfortunately, revenues here are squandered on non-essential costs with no real benefit."
Following the departure of former President Dos Santos, Angola endured five sequential periods of economic contraction between 2017 and 2021.
Growth only resumed in 2022, largely driven by non-oil sectors. But current progress has had scant influence on the conditions faced by the population.
In a report this year, the World Bank estimated that more than a one-third of the population subsist with less than $2.15 per day.
It said that while the economy was developing, it was not keeping up with population growth, meaning that, on average, people were getting poorer.
Looking Ahead
With national festivities nearing, plans including music festivals, state honors, and a football match involving Argentinian Lionel Messi are in active preparation.
But student Lea Komba challenges the old socialist slogan "single populace, unified country," coined during the historical single-party system of the late 1970s.
"It's simply not true that we all share the same reality. There is significant imbalance. Young people in underserved regions are almost subjected to extreme poverty, without proper schooling or stable employment, even if they apply themselves and earn a degree," she remarked.
"These young people think with their basic needs, because food insecurity leaves them with little hope. They are the ones who took to the roads."
The student added that "officials must look at fundamental reasons, not just outcomes."
"The looting was simply the way young people found to generate focus from those in power."
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Tina Whitehead
A certified financial planner with over 15 years of experience, specializing in retirement planning and wealth management for UK residents.
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