The results reveal limited public awareness of fuel subsidy policies, low levels of trust in the government, and unclear government communications. According to a World Bank study, which included an opinion survey of around 600 people, only 29% of participants were aware of the existence of fuel subsidies in Angola, despite the government spending 3.7% of GDP in 2023 to keep prices below market cost.
Beyond the lack of knowledge about the country’s reality, only 22% of respondents believed the government had taken adequate measures to reduce the cost of living, and only 10% considered government communications clear and informative regarding the subsidy reform.
Many respondents, regardless of gender or location, found government messaging unclear and insufficient to address public concerns. They also noted that the government had not adequately considered “the potential impacts of the reform and did not show receptiveness to citizen feedback, a perception particularly strong among men.”
Participants highlighted that the government should have communicated the reform with the same reach and clarity as during election campaigns—when messages actively reach remote areas—or during the Covid-19 pandemic, when even those with limited education understood the situation and government objectives.
These indicators reinforce the importance of careful planning, transparent communication, and comprehensive mitigation measures as a strategy to gain public support for subsidy reforms and any reform in general. “Effective communication and timely compensation are essential for successful reform implementation,” the authors argue. The 2024 survey, conducted after the first phase of fuel subsidy reform, also collected opinions through focus groups involving 30 people.
The lack of knowledge about fuel subsidies also highlights the debate over public information policies and how public media institutions (do not) address sensitive governance issues, limiting access to accurate and quality information.
The sense of rejection pushes most people, especially younger ones, toward social media and other less reliable channels. “Initially, communication efforts focused on press conferences to announce the measure and mitigation initiatives, participation in radio and TV programs, and meetings with various groups, including associations, NGOs, churches, and youth organizations. There were also some social media initiatives with young Angolan influencers,” the study authors emphasize. Even so, societal reaction was overwhelmingly negative, with protests causing fatalities and material damage, particularly at the end of July last year.
The communication strategy also lost momentum over time, according to the World Bank: “Angolans learned about price changes mainly through the media, without any explanatory message about the reform’s objectives.”
Negative Impacts
Led by the World Bank’s Departments of Economic Policy, Poverty and Equity, and Social Protection and Labor, the study identifies strategies that could influence public opinion and analyzes variations in support based on respondents’ residence and gender.
Among the most significant results, more than 80% of respondents believed their household was entitled to receive fuel subsidies, while a large majority (83%) thought reducing subsidies could lead to a general acceleration of prices in Angola. 70% agreed that fuel subsidies have a major environmental impact, and another 70% agreed that wealthier households benefit more from such policies than poorer ones.
However, only 36% agreed that reducing fuel subsidies could improve the economy and create jobs. “This suggests that many respondents do not associate subsidy reform with the potential reallocation of resources to broader development objectives,” the study authors conclude.
Source: Expansão
