In a post on his official Facebook page, Manuel Homem makes it clear: "Burning down establishments, attacking state symbols, or threatening the safety of ordinary citizens is not a protest. It is a crime. And it will be treated as such."
Between Monday and Wednesday, Luanda was the scene of riots and looting during the strike called by taxi drivers, resulting in more than 22 deaths and 197 injuries. Videos of the destruction of stores, vandalism of property, and images of citizens burning posters with President João Lourenço's portrait circulated on social media.
The minister assured that he is attentive to "the legitimate voices calling for improvements" and assured that the government is working, "listening and seeking solutions."
"But we are also prepared to act firmly against those who, for political or opportunistic reasons, try unsuccessfully to plunge the country into chaos," he warned.
"Demanding is a right. Destroying is an attack on everyone's future. Our commitment is to order, dialogue, and the Angolan people," he emphasized.
In the same text, Manuel Homem emphasized that Angola "is a country of peace and struggle," whose people understand the value of freedom, noting that the Ministry of the Interior has a duty to protect the right to protest, "a pillar of democracy" that is being built with great effort.
