João Lourenço also condemned the acts of vandalism and looting that caused deaths, injuries, and destruction, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.
The head of state addressed the nation this Friday at 1:00 p.m., at the end of a week marked by unrest and at a time when many voices were already criticizing his silence in the face of the incidents.
"Whoever orchestrated and led this criminal act was defeated and helped us all, the Executive and society, to take preventive measures and better ways to react in the event of a recurrence, aiming to minimize damage to people and property," the head of state stated in a message to the nation, broadcast by Angolan Public Television.
João Lourenço lamented the violence of recent days: "What we have witnessed since Monday were premeditated acts of destruction of public and private property, assault and looting of commercial establishments, threats and coercion against peaceful citizens."
João Lourenço considered that "irresponsible citizens manipulated by national and foreign anti-patriotic organizations through social media" were behind the events, whose consequences include "mourning, the destruction of public and private property, the reduction in the supply of essential goods and services to the population, and the unemployment of Angolans who worked in these commercial establishments."
"We strongly condemn such criminal acts, we regret the loss of human lives, and we take this opportunity to express, on our behalf and that of the Angolan government, our deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and our best wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured as a result of these sad events," he stated.
The strike, called by the National Association of Taxi Drivers of Angola (ANATA), began on July 28th in protest against rising fuel prices and public transportation fares. In several provinces, the strike degenerated into clashes with security forces, looting, and vandalism.
According to the most recent official report, the riots resulted in 30 deaths, 277 injuries, and 1,515 arrests, with the highest incidence in the provinces of Luanda, Benguela, Huíla, Huambo, Malanje, Bengo, and Lunda Norte. Also destroyed were 118 commercial establishments, 24 public buses, more than 20 private vehicles, five defense and security force vehicles, a motorcycle, and an ambulance.
