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Residents in areas across Luanda are still fearful to speak openly about the incidents in July, when protests paralyzed urban life and turmoil shook various areas.

Starting out as a call among taxi drivers to oppose rising fuel prices evolved into three days of hostilities, causing at least three dozen fatalities and a multitude of arrests.

Streets became impassable with incendiary rubber, stores got raided, and confrontations occurred between protesters and law enforcement.

It was one of the largest surges of protest since the end of the national strife in 2002.

Root Causes: Poverty and Disparity

Preceding resource-abundant Angola marking 50 years of autonomy from Portugal, the protests emphasized ongoing apprehensions about need and economic disparity.

Across districts where unrest peaked, few people are prepared to share views publicly, concerned over retaliation or harassment due to numerous apprehensions during and after the unrest.

"Events might have spun out of hand, but we needed to be this vocal to wake up those in power," commented a young peddler from Luanda who wished to stay unidentified.

Having left school before finishing secondary education, he now sells beverages along one of the capital's busiest roads to support his family.

This individual represents numerous citizens striving to get by amid modern infrastructures erected by petroleum income.

Youth Unemployment Drives Frustration

According to him, participating in the initial phase of protests was a way to express that "we have a voice" and that people like him are entitled to a portion of the prosperity of a country that is "affluent for a few, but bleak for numerous of us."

Joblessness among young adults has been a major driver of public demonstrations in this young nation where the middle age is under 16.

Unemployment among youth reaches 54%, as per official figures. Out of 18 million young people of employment age, only 3,000,000 have jobs in the formal sector – meaning they obtain regular wages and pay taxes.

In Angola's main cities, numerous unemployed youth who are no longer in school highlight the state's struggle in addressing their aspirations.

"I merely trade on the street when I can get enough money to buy the products," the street vendor explained. "At times when I don't sell anything because business is so poor. I and countless others live like this, and no one notices us. That’s why we can't stay silent."

Sociological Perspective

Local expert Gilson Lázaro was unsurprised by the recent unrest. He contends that those at the center of the demonstrations were the "dispossessed."

"This group consists of young people, the most, who have little remaining but their lives. That is why they protested publicly without fear," he observed.

The demonstrations emerged organically in some of Luanda's more densely populated and disadvantaged neighborhoods, where some inhabitants do not have access to basic sanitation as well as other necessary utilities.

Step by step, protesters moved into the capital's primary streets, causing chaos and "lifting the veil on a societal issue that has been present for ages but which the leadership has opted to neglect," according to the analyst.

"For some time, Angola has been moving into a deep social, economic, and, primarily, governmental credibility crisis. The fundamental issue is the faulty way the country has been administered since the end of the civil war in 2002," Dr. Lázaro commented.

Government Response

State leadership has expressed a different view.

A state spokesperson did not respond to a petition for input on the events and their consequences, but in a national address, President João Lourenço made his position clear.

He denounced the protests as "deeds committed by irresponsible citizens, directed by unpatriotic local and overseas organizations through online platforms, bringing sorrow, destruction of state and personal assets, restricted entry to basic necessities and utilities, and job losses for Angolans."

Financial Struggles

In spite of multiple pledges to broaden economic sectors, Angola remains concentrated in oil and gas, which are by far the country's primary overseas sales as well as the key source of state income.

"Natural resources are valuable, but the problem lies in how income are used," Angolan economist Francisco Paulo stated. "Should the nation emulate examples like Norway or Saudi Arabia, using oil wealth to bolster non-oil sectors and improve its labor pool, it would be a blessing. Unfortunately, revenues here are misused on non-essential costs with no tangible gain."

After the ouster of former President Dos Santos, Angola experienced five consecutive years of economic decline between 2017 and 2021.

Growth only returned in 2022, primarily propelled by non-oil sectors. But recent growth has had scant influence on the daily reality of citizens.

According to a study this year, the World Bank estimated that more than a one-third of the population live on less than $2.15 per day.

The report indicated that while the economy was expanding, it was not keeping up with population growth, meaning that, on average, people were getting poorer.

Looking Ahead

As independence celebrations approach, plans including entertainment gatherings, state honors, and a football match including Argentinian Lionel Messi are in full swing.

But student Lea Komba questions the old socialist slogan "single populace, unified country," coined 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 neglected zones are almost destined for extreme poverty, without quality education or decent jobs, even if they work diligently and earn a degree," she remarked.

"This demographic think with their stomachs, because hunger leaves them with no alternatives. They are the ones who occupied public spaces."

Ms. Komba added that "government leaders must look at root causes, not just outcomes."

"Plundering was simply the way young people found to generate focus from those in power."

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