Luanda, July 28, 2025 (Lusa) - The Luanda Provincial Government said on Monday that it is "monitoring with great concern" the events that took place this morning in various parts of the province on the first day of a taxi strike marked by acts of vandalism.
According to a statement from the Luanda Provincial Government (GPL), the events were characterised "by disturbances and acts of vandalism associated with the forced stoppage of taxi activity".
According to the government of the province of Luanda, the capital of Angola, “the main taxi associations and cooperatives, which had initially announced a strike, officially cancelled the strike over the weekend as part of an effort to engage in dialogue with the authorities with a view to resolving the issues raised”.
“However, in the last few hours, groups of unidentified individuals with no legitimate representation of taxi drivers have once again called for a strike, promoting acts of intimidation and violence, with attacks on vehicles travelling on public roads, including those not providing taxi services,” the statement said.
These acts "of vandalism, aggression against workers, destruction of public and private property, as well as any coercion of citizens who wish to freely exercise their activities" were "vehemently" condemned by the GPL.
“We reiterate that the protection of life, liberty and physical integrity and property of persons is a priority of the State, which is why the forces of law and order are actively on the ground with the aim of restoring order and ensuring the safety of all citizens,” the GPL emphasised in its statement.
The GPL appealed to the public in Luanda, particularly taxi drivers and other transport professionals, "to remain calm, civil and confident in public institutions, and to avoid participating in violent and destructive actions".
In the document, the GPL stresses that "investigations are underway to identify the perpetrators and instigators of these criminal acts, who will be held accountable under the law".
Earlier this month, the price of diesel rose from 300 to 400 kwanzas per litre (€0.28 to €0.37) as part of the government's gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidies, which began in 2023, leading to an adjustment in public transport fares.
In view of the rise in diesel prices, the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) raised the price of shared taxis (occasional passenger transport) from 200 kwanzas (€0.19) to 300 kwanzas (€0.28) and the fare for urban buses from 150 kwanzas (€0.13) to 200 kwanzas.
Taxi drivers point out that more than 15 days have passed without the government “hearing the cry for help from taxi drivers”, so they have decided that “the taxi driver associations and cooperatives ANATA, ATA, CTMF, ATLA, CTCS, 2PN and AB-TAXI” will halt taxi services on the 28th, 29th and 30th of this month.
In the early hours of today, there were crowds at taxi ranks in various parts of the province, with many videos circulating on social media showing the situation, acts of vandalism in shops, buses being stoned, barricades on the roads and burning tyres.
The management of one of the commercial establishments looted this morning has already announced the temporary closure of its shops in Luanda.
NME/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
