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Residents in parts of the Angolan capital continue to be apprehensive to speak openly about the incidents in July, when uprisings paralyzed urban life and unrest shook various areas.

What began as a demand among taxi drivers to oppose increased petrol costs escalated into 72 hours of hostilities, resulting in at least numerous casualties and numerous individuals of apprehensions.

Transport routes were barricaded with burning tyres, stores got raided, and confrontations broke out between protesters and security forces.

This marked one of the most impactful waves of dissent since the termination of the civil war in 2002.

Underlying Factors: Poverty and Disparity

Ahead of petroleum-endowed Angola marking 50 years of sovereignty from Portugal, the movements highlighted persistent apprehensions about impoverishment and economic disparity.

In neighborhoods where unrest peaked, few people are inclined to speak openly, worried about backlash or persecution due to widespread detentions during and after the unrest.

"Situations could have gotten out of control, but we had to make that much noise to rouse those in power," shared a young street vendor from Luanda who requested anonymity.

Since departing school before concluding secondary education, he now vends refreshments along one of the capital's busiest thoroughfares to sustain his family.

This individual represents countless people struggling to survive amid gleaming skyscrapers erected by petroleum income.

Joblessness Among Young People Propels Frustration

In his view, participating in the first day of protests was a way to demonstrate that "we can be heard" and that those facing similar challenges merit a piece of the resources of a country that is "affluent for a few, but difficult for a large segment of us."

Joblessness among young adults has been a major driver of dissent in this demographically fresh state where the median average age is below 16.

Joblessness among young adults reaches 54%, based on official figures. Out of numerous young people of working age, only a fraction have jobs in the official workforce – meaning they obtain regular wages and fulfill fiscal duties.

In Angola's main cities, many jobless young people who are no longer in school emphasize the state's difficulty in fulfilling their ambitions.

"I just vend on the street when I can earn sufficient funds to buy the products," the informal merchant remarked. "There are months when I make no sales because business is so poor. Myself and many others live like this, and no one notices us. That’s why we can't stay silent."

Sociological Perspective

Researcher Gilson Lázaro was expecting by the recent unrest. He argues that those at the core of the movements were the "dispossessed."

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

The uprisings arose spontaneously in some of Luanda's more densely populated and disadvantaged districts, where some inhabitants are without access to fundamental amenities as well as other critical facilities.

Step by step, participants moved into the capital's primary streets, causing chaos and "exposing a societal issue that has persisted for years but which the governing class has chosen to overlook," according to the analyst.

"Over recent years, Angola has been approaching a profound social, economic, and, primarily, political legitimacy crisis. The primary reason is the flawed way the country has been run since the end of the civil war in 2002," Dr. Lázaro added.

Official Reaction

The Angolan government has adopted a contrary perspective.

A state spokesperson did not acknowledge a inquiry for input on the protests and their aftermath, but in a national address, President João Lourenço made his position clear.

He denounced the protests as "actions committed by irresponsible citizens, manipulated by disloyal local and overseas organizations through digital networks, bringing mourning, ruin of state and personal assets, restricted entry to essential goods and services, and unemployment for Angolans."

Financial Struggles

Despite repeated promises to broaden economic sectors, Angola remains concentrated in oil and gas, which are by far the country's main exports as well as the primary provider of state income.

"Mineral wealth are valuable, but the issue lies in how income are allocated," Angolan economist Francisco Paulo stated. "If Angola followed systems like Norway or Saudi Arabia, using oil wealth to bolster non-oil sectors and improve its labor pool, it would be a benefit. Regrettably, revenues here are squandered on frivolous outlays with no real benefit."

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

Expansion only returned in 2022, largely driven by non-oil sectors. But the latest expansion has had little impact on most Angolans' lives.

As per an analysis this year, the World Bank estimated that more than a third of the population live on less than $2.15 per day.

The report indicated that while the economy was developing, it was not keeping up with population growth, meaning that, on average, people were experiencing declining wealth.

What Comes Next

As independence celebrations approach, plans including entertainment gatherings, state honors, and a soccer game involving Argentinian Lionel Messi are in active preparation.

But young scholar Lea Komba challenges the old socialist slogan "one people, one nation," popularized 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 adequate instruction or decent jobs, even if they work diligently and earn a degree," she said.

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

She added that "the authorities must look at fundamental reasons, not just results."

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

She anticipates that there {could