Led by President João Lourenço, the extraordinary meeting of the Council of the Republic took place at the Presidential Palace with the aim of "analyzing the public security situation in the country, highlighting the events that occurred on July 28, 29, 30, and August 1, 2025, in the provinces of Luanda, Malanje, Huíla, Benguela, Cubango, Bengo, and Icolo e Bengo, marked by acts of vandalism, rioting, insurgency against law enforcement and security forces, as well as looting of public and private establishments."
According to the meeting's final statement, released by the Presidency of the Republic and to which VerAngola had access, the council members "were informed that the public security situation in the country is stable, and services that were temporarily interrupted due to acts of vandalism are now fully operational, despite the persistence of disinformation and disguised incitement to violence on social media, a scenario that tends to instill panic and a feeling of insecurity among the population."
The meeting appealed to the public not only to adopt a "civic and orderly posture," but also to respect authorities and avoid spreading disinformation on social media.
"The Council of the Republic calls on the Angolan people to maintain a civic and orderly posture, guided by the responsible and conscientious exercise of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Angola and the law, and by respect for authorities, also avoiding the dissemination of misinformation on digital platforms, in order to safeguard the well-being of all," the note reads.
The Council also "encourages defense and security agencies to continue with measures to guarantee public order, tranquility, and safety, and the maintenance of social peace."
It is worth noting that the extraordinary meeting of this body was convened late last week by the President of the Republic.
The Council of the Republic includes the Vice President of the Republic, the President of the National Assembly, the Attorney General, leaders of political parties with seats in parliament, the Vice President of the MPLA, and civil society figures.
Angola has seen acts of vandalism, violence, and looting over the past week, following a strike called by taxi drivers protesting rising fuel prices and, consequently, public transportation fares.
This Monday morning, Angolan National Police spokesperson Mateus Rodrigues, in a report on the country's public security situation, assured that it remains stable, with institutions functioning normally and the free movement of people and goods.
According to Rodrigues, particularly in Luanda, the country's capital, "the situation is equally calm, traffic is operating quite normally, and the presence of taxis and public transportation is visible."
"The Angolan National Police reiterates that there is no reason for concern and assures that it is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all citizens, respecting the rights, freedoms, and guarantees enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Angola," Rodrigues said.
The Angolan National Police spokesperson urged citizens to be wary of false alarms, especially on social media and digital platforms, which aim to spread misinformation and create a sense of fear and insecurity within communities.
During the riots, according to National Police data, 30 deaths, more than 200 injuries, and over 1500 arrests were recorded.
