Activist shot and disappeared after peaceful protest

On July 28, activist Serrote José de Oliveira, 33, was shot in the leg by unidentified armed men while livestreaming the first day of a strike in Luanda, Angola. After briefly receiving hospital care, he was forcibly taken by police to the Talatona Municipal Command Station and hasn’t been seen or heard from since.

His family, friends, and fellow activists are deeply worried. Serrote is being held incommunicado, without contact with loved ones or legal support. He has also been denied proper medical treatment for his injury.

Amnesty International believes Serrote is being arbitrarily detained for peacefully exercising his rights. Authorities must urgently share where he is, ensure he receives the medical care he needs, and allow him to see his family and a lawyer. Unless he is charged with a recognizable crime, he must be released immediately.

Here’s what you can do:

Write to the Angolan Minister of Justice and Human Rights urging him to:

• Immediately disclose Serrote José de Oliveira’s fate and whereabouts.
• Release him unless he is charged with an internationally recognizable offense and ensure due process if charged.
• Guarantee him access to urgent medical care.
• Allow regular contact with his family and legal counsel.

Widespread protests over fuel price hike

In July 2025, civil society groups in Angola called for nationwide protests after the government raised diesel prices by over 30%. The increase led to a sharp rise in minibus taxi fares, which many people rely on for daily transport. These protests reflected growing frustration over the rising cost of living and worsening economic pressures.

The first wave of protests began on July 12 in Luanda, the capital. Police responded with force, arresting at least 12 people and using unnecessary and excessive violence to disperse crowds.

Targeting of activists

On July 19, activist Osvaldo Kaholol, 36, was arrested just hours before another planned protest in Luanda. Authorities accused him of inciting violence after he appeared in a livestream mobilizing support for the demonstrations.

Osvaldo was held for over 24 hours without access to his lawyer or family. He was later transferred to Calomboloca Prison without any official notice. His family only found out five days later. In protest against prison conditions and restrictions on receiving food from family, Osvaldo began a hunger strike on July 22. He was also forced to wear the same clothes for eight days.

Escalation and mass arrests

The Angola National Taxi Association (ANATA) launched a three-day strike beginning July 28. The strike aimed to pressure the government to reverse the diesel price hike, which had caused a 50% surge in public transport fares.

The strike was met with violent clashes, vandalism, and a heavy-handed police response across Luanda. On July 31, the Minister of Interior reported 1,214 arrests, 22 deaths, and 197 injuries over just two days.

Silence from the government

Despite the scale of the protests and growing calls from civil society and opposition leaders for dialogue, the Angolan government has yet to publicly respond.

This isn’t the first time that changes in fuel prices have sparked deadly unrest. Amnesty International’s latest report on Angola documented that what became known as the ‘Huambo protests’ on June 5 led to the deaths of five people including a 12-year-old boy who was killed on his way home from school.

These repeated crackdowns reflect a troubling pattern of repression and disregard for human rights by the Angolan authorities.

Please take action as soon as possible until January 30, 2026. The UA will be duly updated should there be the need for further action.