Authorities say violence that erupted during fuel price protests this week in Angola left at least 22 people dead while more than 1,200 have been arrested.

Angola's government said on Wednesday that the death toll from violent protests against a fuel price hike had risen to 22 from the previous day's estimate of four.

Four people were killed and 500 arrested after protests over fuel price hikes in Angola. The government raised the price of diesel by more than 33% this month in a bid to remove fuel subsidies in the country, one of Africa’s top oil producers.