Luanda, July 29, 2025 (Lusa) - The Angolan capital is experiencing its second consecutive day of insecurity, with looting and acts of vandalism occurring mainly in the outskirts, targeting supermarkets, according to Lusa.
At around 9:30 a.m., in the Comarca area - the access road to Cacuaco, one of the poorest areas of Luanda - a crowd gathered to attack a supermarket belonging to the Angomart chain. The road was blocked and the police fired warning shots to disperse the crowd, Lusa reported from the scene.
Reports gathered by Lusa journalists point to similar looting in several food stores in other areas of Luanda, accompanied by gunfire and clashes.
Videos shared on social media show attempts to invade the Cidade da China shopping centre, as well as improvised barricades with burning tyres on the main access roads to Luanda.
Some of these images refer to deaths, with the authorities announcing that four people have already died during the riots.
Due to the climate of widespread insecurity, several commercial establishments, banks and public institutions announced today the preventive closure of their activities and many companies are keeping their workers on remote working arrangements while they await a return to normality.
The protests follow a national taxi strike called to protest against fuel price increases.
Although the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (ANATA) announced the cancellation of the strike after negotiations with the Luanda Provincial Government, the protests degenerated into acts of vandalism in several neighbourhoods of the capital.
On Monday, Luanda had already been the scene of clashes, looting and roadblocks, forcing the police to intervene.
Today, a strong police presence remains at strategic points in the city, including armoured vehicles and military personnel.
The withdrawal of fuel subsidies has generated strong social unrest due to the impact on the cost of living for Angolans, who are already struggling with inflation levels of around 20%.
RCR/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
