According to BBC, a 24-year-old Luanda street vendor, who wanted to remain anonymous, participated in the protests as a way of showing that "we have a voice" and that people like him deserve a share of the country's wealth. He is among millions struggling to get by amid the gleaming skyscrapers built by oil money. Youth unemployment has been a significant driver of the protests in this young country where the median age is less than 16. Official figures show that unemployment among 15-to-24-year-olds stands at 54%, with only three million out of the 18 million young people of working age having jobs in the formal sector.
Angolan sociologist Gilson Lázaro noted that the protests were driven by the "dispossessed" youth who felt they had nothing left but their lives. Demonstrators moved into Luanda's main avenues, causing chaos and highlighting a social problem that the political elite has preferred to ignore. Lázaro added that Angola is facing a deep crisis due to flawed governance since the civil war's end in 2002.
The Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) has been in power since independence, with President João Lourenço taking over in 2017. Despite promises to overhaul the system and tackle corruption, critics argue that Lourenço has failed to manage the cost-of-living crisis. According to a 2024 Afrobarometer survey, 63% of Angolans believe the country's economic situation has worsened compared to the previous year.
Young people have been at the forefront of most anti-government protests, yet nothing matched the scale of July's unrest. Lea Komba, a 20-year-old political science student, remarked that the fuel protests were "terrifying but somewhat expected" given the country's reality. The Angolan government, while not responding to BBC's request for comment, has taken a different view on the protests.
Economist Francisco Paulo pointed out that Angola remains dependent on oil and gas, which are the main exports and government revenue sources. Despite economic growth returning in 2022, a World Bank report estimated that more than a third of the population lives on less than $2.15 per day, with the economy failing to keep up with population growth.
As independence celebrations approach, plans are in full swing, but Komba questions the old socialist slogan "one people, one nation," emphasizing the inequality faced by marginalized young people. She warned that more unrest could occur before the 2027 elections, as political awareness grows and elections are seen as crucial for real change.
