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Locals in parts of Angola’s primary city are still fearful to speak openly about what transpired last month, when uprisings brought the city to a standstill and turmoil shook multiple provinces.

Starting out as a call among transport workers to protest rising fuel prices turned into three days of violence, causing at least 30 deaths and a multitude of apprehensions.

Streets became impassable with incendiary rubber, stores got raided, and skirmishes occurred between protesters and police.

It was one of the most significant outbreaks of public outcry since the end of the civil war in 2002.

Underlying Causes: Poverty and Inequality

In the lead-up to petroleum-endowed Angola commemorating 50 years of sovereignty from Portugal, the protests emphasized persistent worries about need and social inequality.

In neighborhoods where unrest peaked, limited individuals are prepared to talk frankly, fearing reprisals or targeting due to numerous apprehensions during and after the incidents.

"Things may have gotten out of control, but we needed to make that much noise to alert those in power," shared a 24-year-old informal seller from Luanda who requested anonymity.

Having left school before concluding high school, he now offers refreshments along one of the capital's busiest roads to support his family.

He counts among numerous citizens struggling to survive amid modern infrastructures constructed by petroleum income.

Lack of Opportunities for the Young Fuels Discontent

In his view, taking part in the opening stage of protests was a way to express that "our opinions matter" and that people like him deserve a piece of the wealth of a country that is "prosperous for elites, but miserable for numerous of us."

Joblessness among young adults has been a primary cause of protests in this young nation where the typical age is less than 16.

Joblessness among young adults is at 54%, according to official figures. Out of 18,000,000 young people of productive years, only 3,000,000 have jobs in the formal sector – indicating they obtain steady income and pay taxes.

In Angola's main cities, numerous unemployed youth who are no longer in school emphasize the state's inability in addressing their ambitions.

"I only sell on the street when I can earn sufficient funds to buy the items," the peddler explained. "There are months when I don't sell anything because business is so slow. Myself and many others live like this, and authorities ignore us. That’s why we can't stay silent."

Expert Analysis

Angolan sociologist Gilson Lázaro was unsurprised by the summer protests. He believes that those at the core of the demonstrations were the "dispossessed."

"They represent young people, the majority, who have nothing left but their lives. That is why they demonstrated openly without fear," he stated.

The protests started without planning in some of Luanda's more crowded and underprivileged districts, where some locals do not have access to essential services as well as other essential infrastructure.

Over time, participants moved into the capital's main avenues, causing disorder and "lifting the veil on a social problem that has been present for ages but which the political elite has chosen to overlook," according to the sociologist.

"Over recent years, Angola has been moving into a deep social, economic, and, most importantly, political legitimacy crisis. The fundamental issue is the faulty way the country has been run since the end of the civil war in 2002," Dr. Lázaro added.

State Position

The Angolan government has taken a different view.

A state spokesperson did not acknowledge a inquiry for comment on the protests and their consequences, but in a public speech, President João Lourenço made his position clear.

He denounced the protests as "deeds committed by reckless individuals, influenced by unpatriotic national and foreign organizations through digital networks, bringing sorrow, damage of state and personal assets, limited availability to essential goods and services, and layoffs for Angolans."

Economic Challenges

In spite of repeated promises to diversify its economy, Angola remains concentrated in oil and gas, which are by far the country's main exports as well as the key source of public funds.

"Mineral wealth are good, but the problem lies in how earnings are allocated," local financial expert Francisco Paulo commented. "Should the nation emulate systems like Norway or Saudi Arabia, using oil wealth to strengthen non-oil sectors and develop its labor pool, it would be a benefit. Sadly, revenues here are wasted on superficial expenses with no real benefit."

Following the departure of former President Dos Santos, Angola experienced five straight years of economic contraction between 2017 and 2021.

Growth only resumed in 2022, largely driven by non-oil sectors. But the latest expansion has had little impact on the daily reality of citizens.

According to a study this year, the World Bank estimated that more than a 33% of the population survive on less than $2.15 per day.

It said that while the economy was expanding, it was not paralleling population growth, meaning that, on average, people were getting poorer.

Future Outlook

As independence celebrations approach, plans including music festivals, presidential medal ceremonies, and a soccer game including Argentinian Lionel Messi are in advanced stages.

But activist Lea Komba challenges the old socialist slogan "united citizens, one state," created during the former socialist government of the late 1970s.

"It's simply not true that we all share the same reality. There is huge inequality. Young people in marginalized areas are almost condemned to extreme poverty, without adequate instruction or stable employment, even if they work diligently and earn a degree," she said.

"This demographic think with their stomachs, because hunger leaves them with nothing to lose. They are the ones who filled the streets."

She added that "government leaders must look at underlying issues, not just results."

"The looting was simply the way young people found to draw attention from those in power."

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