"It is not clear whether the events in Cafunfo will lead to more instability in the region or elsewhere in Angola, but what is clear is that dissatisfaction with the João Lourenço government shows no signs of fading, which it offers to opposition parties. and the independence movements the opportunity to mobilize supporters and take advantage of general discontent, "said analyst Louw Nel.
In a note sent to Lusa, this analyst at NKC African Economics, the African subsidiary of British Oxford Economics, writes that "the increase in protest actions by the Lunda Tchokwe Portuguese Protectorate Movement (MPPLT) coincided with a widespread rise in anti- Government in Angola last year, which were related to the deterioration of socio-economic conditions aggravated by the pandemic and the fall in oil prices ".
The authorities, he recalls, "responded heavily, with police brutality to further increase the vigor of the protests", to which was added the postponement of the municipal elections, a setback for these movements, which "are the ones that have the most to gain with popular participation in choosing their municipal and district representatives ".
The police violently repressed last Saturday a demonstration called by the Movement of the Portuguese Protectorate of Lunda Tchokwe (MPPLT), in the village of Cafunfo, in the province of Lunda-Norte, to mark the 127th anniversary of the international recognition of the Portuguese protectorate treaty of Lunda.
