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Residents in parts of the Angolan capital remain afraid to speak openly about what transpired last month, when protests paralyzed urban life and unrest rocked various areas.

Initially launched as a call among cab operators to protest rising fuel prices evolved into three days of conflict, resulting in at least three dozen fatalities and a multitude of apprehensions.

Transport routes were barricaded with burning tyres, stores got raided, and skirmishes occurred between demonstrators and police.

This marked one of the largest outbreaks of public outcry since the end of the civil war in 2002.

Underlying Causes: Poverty and Inequality

In the lead-up to resource-abundant Angola marking 50 years of autonomy from Portugal, the movements emphasized persistent apprehensions about impoverishment and economic disparity.

Across districts where dissent was most intense, scarce residents are willing to speak openly, concerned over backlash or persecution due to widespread detentions during and after the unrest.

"Things may have gotten out of control, but we had to protest loudly to wake up those in power," shared a 24-year-old peddler from Luanda who chose to remain unnamed.

Having left school before concluding secondary education, he now offers soft drinks along one of the capital's most crowded thoroughfares to provide for his family.

He counts among numerous citizens striving to survive amid modern infrastructures erected by oil revenues.

Joblessness Among Young People Propels Frustration

For the vendor, taking part in the initial phase of rallies was a way to show that "we have a voice" and that people like him deserve a share of the resources of a country that is "prosperous for elites, but difficult for so many of us."

Lack of employment for the youth has been a key factor of public demonstrations in this young nation where the middle age is less than 16.

Unemployment among 15-to-24-year-olds reaches 54%, based on official figures. Out of numerous young people of working age, only 3,000,000 have jobs in the formal sector – meaning they get consistent pay and contribute to public funds.

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

"I merely trade on the street when I can obtain adequate cash to buy the soft drinks," the street vendor explained. "Periodically when I have zero income because business is so sluggish. I and countless others live like this, and no one notices us. That’s why we refuse to stay quiet."

Sociological Perspective

Local expert Gilson Lázaro was unsurprised by the recent unrest. He believes that those at the core of the protests were the "impoverished."

"These are young people, the most, who have no alternatives but their lives. That is why they demonstrated openly without fear," he observed.

The demonstrations emerged spontaneously in some of Luanda's more crowded and underprivileged districts, where some locals do not have access to basic sanitation as well as other essential infrastructure.

Over time, participants moved into the capital's primary streets, causing disorder and "exposing a social problem that has long existed but which the leadership has preferred to ignore," according to the analyst.

"For some time, Angola has been approaching a serious social, economic, and, most importantly, political legitimacy crisis. The root cause is the defective way the country has been run since the end of the civil war in 2002," Dr. Lázaro noted.

State Position

State leadership has adopted a opposing stance.

An authority representative did not acknowledge a petition for input on the protests and their aftermath, but in a national address, President João Lourenço made his position clear.

He condemned the protests as "acts committed by unaccountable people, directed by unpatriotic local and overseas organizations through online platforms, bringing mourning, ruin of state and personal assets, reduced access to basic necessities and utilities, and unemployment for Angolans."

Financial Struggles

Despite repeated promises to expand beyond oil, Angola remains reliant upon oil and gas, which are by far the country's main exports as well as the major origin of government revenue.

"Mineral wealth are good, but the issue lies in how earnings are used," Angolan economist Francisco Paulo remarked. "Had Angola adopted models like Norway or Saudi Arabia, using oil wealth to strengthen non-oil sectors and develop its workforce, it would be a benefit. Unfortunately, revenues here are misused on frivolous outlays with no tangible gain."

Subsequent to the ouster of former President Dos Santos, Angola endured five consecutive years of economic shrinkage between 2017 and 2021.

Recovery only returned in 2022, mainly fueled by non-oil sectors. But recent growth has had little impact on the daily reality of citizens.

In a report this year, the World Bank estimated that more than a 33% of the population subsist with less than $2.15 per day.

It said that while the economy was developing, it was not paralleling population growth, meaning that, on average, people were becoming more impoverished.

Future Outlook

Ahead of the sovereignty commemorations, plans including music festivals, presidential medal ceremonies, and a football match featuring global star Messi are in advanced stages.

But student Lea Komba doubts the old socialist slogan "single populace, unified country," created during the former socialist government of the late 1970s.

"This is inaccurate that we all share the same reality. There is huge inequality. Young people in marginalized areas are almost subjected to extreme poverty, without proper schooling or decent jobs, even if they apply themselves and earn a degree," she stated.

"This demographic think with their basic needs, because starvation leaves them with nothing to lose. They are the ones who took to the roads."

The student added that "the authorities must look at fundamental reasons, not just outcomes."

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

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