Luanda, July 11, 2025 (Lusa) - Angolan activists on Friday accused the police of intimidation and attempting to prevent a press conference at which they reaffirmed that Saturday's march against rising fuel and transport prices would go ahead, following a route "accepted" by the government.
The press conference, organised today by the so-called social movement against the decree approving the fuel price increase, a platform that brings together various civic organisations, was preceded by a climate of tension and indignation on the part of the activists.
While the organisation was preparing to welcome journalists in Largo Cesário Verde, in the Vila Alice neighbourhood of Luanda, with a banner announcing the reasons for the press conference, police officers arrived and demanded that the banner be removed.
The presence of the police at the scene generated tension and repudiation from several activists, who, with their mobile phones, made live posts on social media denouncing the "intimidating attitude" of the police officers, as Lusa observed at the scene.
"We are here with all the young people for this press conference and we have a problem. The police have already come to try to prevent a press conference from taking place. The young people have already received a letter from the government accepting the march and the police are coming to stop it. We have to put a stop to this," activist Laura Macedo denounced on social media.
Laura Macedo considered the police's attitude "a major affront," as they even forced the activists to remove the banner from the site, amid their lamentations and criticism.
Activist Gilson da Silva Moreira ‘Tanaice Neutro’, also in a live broadcast from the scene, condemned the presence of the police and criticised the Angolan president, João Lourenço, who, in his view, "is insensitive" to the people.
"I no longer understand what [the president] João Lourenço wants from the people (...), these police officers who only follow orders are also suffering, because they also travel by taxi. We are not leaving here, because we are not criminals," said the activist.
Almost 40 minutes after the appointed time, and despite attempts by the police to prevent them, the activists returned to put up the banner with the words: "Fuel rises, life stops! The people can't take it anymore! We are on the streets against the abusive increase in fuel prices and the unsustainable cost of living."
The fare for shared taxis (known as ‘candongueiros’) rose to 300 kwanzas per trip (€0.28) and that for city buses rose to 200 kwanzas per trip (€0.19) since Monday, a measure that follows the increase in the price of diesel, which rose from 300 to 400 kwanzas per litre (€0.28 to €0.37) on 4 July.
Activist Adilson Manuel said at a press conference that the demonstration, scheduled for Saturday, should start at the São Paulo Market square and end at Largo da Maianga, 200 metres from the parliament building, because there had been a "positive response" from the Luanda Provincial Government (GPL).
At a meeting held on Thursday with the Provincial Command of the National Police, the activist said that the police, "in violation of administrative rules," stated that the gathering for the march should not be in front of the São Paulo Market, but in the square in front of the Santa Ana Cemetery.
"We, the movement, believe that we must comply with the law and march according to our itinerary without changing the route," said the activist, inviting the public to join the "peaceful and orderly" march and the police to ensure the safety of the demonstrators.
The Luanda Provincial Government, in a letter signed by the governor's office and shared today by the march organisers, says that "there is no problem with the march going ahead" and advises activists to contact the Police Command to "agree on security measures and the route".
Lusa contacted the police spokesperson in Luanda but has not received a response so far.
DAS/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
