Luanda, July 30, 2025 (Lusa) - The Angolan public transport company Transportes Coletivos Urbanos de Luanda (TCUL) resumed services on Wednesday, recording losses of more than €44,000 during the two days it suspended operations due to insecurity in the Angolan capital.
Today is the last of three days of taxi strikes in Luanda province in protest against rising fuel prices and the resulting increase in transport fares in the Angolan capital, which has been marked by acts of vandalism and violence, including among other things, by looting commercial establishments, stoning vehicles and trains, burning tyres and rubbish bins, and setting up roadblocks.
Speaking to journalists, TCUL spokesman André Gomes said that in the last two days the company had stopped transporting more than 500,000 passengers and that ten buses had been vandalised, with losses amounting to 48 million kwanzas (more than €44,000).
According to André Gomes, service will resume today with 70 buses, with the authorities guaranteeing the safety of passengers, drivers and vehicles.
André Gomes lamented the riots and vandalism of public and private property over the last two days.
"What we have witnessed is a genuine crime, because a strike is not synonymous with vandalism. So we appeal to the public, especially those who have had direct contact with this bad behaviour, not to go down this path," he stressed.
MACON, a private urban passenger transport company, also resumed operations today after reporting the vandalism of at least 12 buses and is still calculating the financial losses between Monday and Tuesday.
Armando Macedo, from MACON's commercial department, stressed that the stoppage had harmed citizens and the company, adding that the resumption of activity would be gradual.
Armando Macedo highlighted the collaboration with the national police and the Luanda provincial government to ensure the safety of passengers and vehicles.
The latest report from the police indicates that five people were killed, including a police officer, 1,214 arrests were made, and 45 shops, 25 private vehicles, 20 public buses and three bank branches were destroyed.
On Tuesday, the police spokesman, Deputy Commissioner Mateus Rodrigues, assured that the public security situation in Luanda is considered stable and that detentions will continue.
Mateus Rodrigues also reported some incidents in the provinces of Huambo, Icolo and Bengo, stressing that the situation was already under control.
Earlier this month, the price of diesel rose from 300 to 400 kwanzas per litre (€0.28 to €0.37) as part of the government's gradual withdrawal of fuel subsidies, which began in 2023, leading to an adjustment in public transport fares.
In view of the rise in the price of diesel, the National Land Transport Agency (ANTT) increased the price of collective taxi services (occasional passenger transport) from 200 to 300 kwanzas (€0.28) and from 150 kwanzas (€0.13) to 200 kwanzas (€0.19) the fare for urban bus services.
The strikers stress that they have spent more than 15 days without the government “hearing the taxi drivers’ cry for help”, which is why “the taxi drivers’ associations and cooperatives ANATA, ATA, CTMF, ATLA, CTCS, 2PN and AB-TAXI” have decided to halt services.
NME/AYLS // AYLS
Lusa
