The Provincial Command of the National Police of Namibe says, in a press release, that among the eight people who were “slightly” injured, three are agents of the corporation and the rest are the promoters of the demonstration.
According to the police, the facts occurred when taxi drivers and motorcycle taxi drivers rioted in different parts of the city of Moçâmedes on the main street of the 5 de Abril district, where they erected barricades with boulders and burning tires.
Afterwards, says the police, “the criminals harassed passers-by and all of their class, who, not adhering to these acts of public disorder, carried out their activities normally, which forced the intervention of the police force, with the aim of restoring the social peace”.
According to the corporation, demonstrators against the rise in fuel prices rose up against the police apparatus by throwing stones and other blunt materials and, in reaction, the police “was forced” to launch tear gas and rubber bullets.
Four vehicles, two warehouses were vandalized, five motorbikes and two cell phones were seized and 86 citizens were preventively detained for their direct involvement in acts of “riot and public disorder”.
The police also ensure that the local situation is under control and call on the Namibian population to remain calm.
Images of protests in the Angolan province of Namibe circulate on social networks, where demonstrators moving along an avenue throw objects, shout “MPLA out” and in the background some shots are heard.
Other images portrayed the presence of a strong police device in the streets of that city and a man on the ground with serious head injuries.
The scenes of the protests in Moçâmedes were reported to Lusa on Monday by the police spokesman in Namibe, inspector Ernesto Calianguila, who at the time did not specify the number of detainees.
The Angolan Government has decided, since the 2nd of June, to partially withdraw subsidies for gasoline, whose liter now costs 300 kwanzas against the previous 160 kwanzas, a situation that has given rise to several protests, including reports of deaths.
A group of activists and members of civil society called for a national demonstration for Saturday against the increase in fuel prices, the end of street vending and the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations.
