On 5 March pro-government supporters rallied in Luanda in support of President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. The demonstrations were organised by the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) in response to anonymous internet calls for anti-government protests. Though many people dismissed the call to protest, the government treated it as a credible threat and deployed extra security in Luanda to crackdown on possible expressions of dissent.
Earlier, on 23 February a Facebook page entitled the "The Angolan People's Revolution" called for protests on 6 March to demand the resignation of President Dos Santos. The social networking site mirrored the coordination methods used during recent protests in North Africa and the Middle East. Initially no opposition groups endorsed the plans. However, while denying any connection to the online groups, the main opposition National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita) later stated support for the protests. The opposition Democratic Bloc also announced support for the action but warned it would be difficult to successfully hold anti-government rallies due to the power of state security forces. Smaller groups such as the Popular Party (PP), the Coalition of Opposition Parties (POC) and the Party for Progress and National Alliance (PDP-ANA) also announced plans to join the demonstration.
The state’s response to the protest calls underlines the anxiety of the Dos Santos government, which has been in power for over 35 years. Government authorities warned against inciting violence and threatened to use robust measures to disperse any unsanctioned or disruptive demonstrations. Human Rights Watch said the government carried out an intimidation campaign to prevent the rallies from taking place. At least 11 people were arrested in the run up to the demonstration and several opposition activists reportedly received death threats. While the planned protest eventually took place on 7 March, it failed to attract significant numbers. Some 20 activists were arrested.
The episode reveals a rising tide of anti-government sentiment in Angola. While an abundance of natural resources means Angola is one of the region’s richest and most developed countries, society remains deeply unequal with more than 75 percent of the population living below the poverty line. Public discontent is growing and is compounded by high levels of perceived government corruption. Widespread unrest is unlikely in the medium term although a failure to implement genuine political reform will fuel increasing discontent. Parliamentary elections in 2012 are expected to be more competitive than previous polls.
