Angola's taxi drivers' associations have declared a strike until Wednesday, primarily in the main provinces, as a protest against the diesel price hike earlier this month, which led to higher public transportation fares.
According to Rafael Inácio, the Angolan Community Taxi Cooperative stands in solidarity with the organization that called the strike, the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (ANATA).
"We've been patrolling since 5:30 am, and there's been an absence of the blue and white [the characteristic colors of informal taxis in Angola] at the taxi ranks. In other words, there are no taxis. But the negative thing we're seeing is a wave of political exploitation, vandalism, and disorder. (...) We strongly condemn this attitude," Rafael Inácio told Lusa.
The association leader stated that in areas like Kilamba Kiaxi, vehicle vandalism and tire burning have been reported.
"Because if it's an orderly and peaceful strike, there shouldn't be any political exploitation, because taxi drivers have always depended on themselves to assert their rights," Rafael Inácio emphasized, criticizing "many publications, many undue exploitations from a political standpoint, especially by opposition parties."
Contacted by Lusa, Nestor Goubel, spokesperson for the Luanda provincial command of the National Police, said that forces are being deployed to locations where reports point to acts of vandalism.
Nestor Goubel emphasized that measures are underway to restore normality, deferring statements to a later date.
At issue are the new fares for urban public passenger transport, adjusted following the increase in diesel prices earlier this month, from 300 to 400 kwanzas per liter, as part of the government's gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidies, which began in 2023.
Taxi drivers emphasize that the government has gone more than 15 days without "hearing the taxi drivers' cry for help," which is why "the taxi associations and cooperatives ANATA, ATA, CTMF, ATLA, CTCS, 2PN, AB-TAXI" have decided to suspend taxi services on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of this month.
In addition to the fuel price increase, taxi drivers are concerned about the increase in maintenance parts costs, the removal of boarding and disembarking stops without prior notice to the associations by municipal administrations and the National Police, as well as the government's unwillingness to formalize taxi services in Angola.
Several videos being shared on social media show crowded taxi ranks with no taxis on the streets of the Luanda province.
Since the diesel price hike, several protests have taken place in Luanda, with demonstrations taking place on three consecutive Saturdays, this being the fourth demonstration of discontent.
In light of the diesel price hike, the National Land Transportation Agency (ANTT) increased the price of shared taxis (occasional passenger transportation) from 200 to 300 kwanzas and the fare for urban bus services from 150 to 200 kwanzas, leaving the tariff adjustments to intercity passenger services at the discretion of local government agencies.
Regarding these increases, the head of ANTT said the government had to find a balance in adjusting public transportation prices so as not to harm either businesses or citizens.
