Francisco Paciente, speaking to the press on Friday following the three-day strike by the "blue and white" (as taxi drivers are known in Angola), marked by riots and episodes of disorder, looting, and vandalism, said that ANATA and other organizations had called off the strike.
"ANATA was not the organizer of the three-day strike, as the strike had already been canceled (...). It was indeed called, but days later it was called off, and we believe that misinformation from profiteering individuals did not help taxi drivers realize the strike was being suspended," he said.
According to him, outsiders were behind the taxi drivers' strike, especially in Luanda, and took advantage of the opportunity to promote acts of vandalism and violence that resulted in 30 deaths and more than 270 injuries.
Paciente condemned the vandalism of public and private property and lamented the deaths: "We strongly condemn these actions, which, under the pretext of the taxi drivers' strike, were used by outsiders to vandalize other people's property."
The ANATA Luanda delegation decided, on the second day of the strike, to continue the taxi drivers' strike, despite the national leadership announcing the suspension of the strike called for July 28th to 30th, as previously reported by Lusa.
In a statement, ANATA Luanda expressed "deep concern over the disturbances and acts of violence that occurred on July 28th, 2025, in the capital city" and "completely distanced itself from these actions," reaffirming that "such behavior does not represent the taxi drivers' profession."
Nevertheless, it decided to continue the strike for the three days previously announced.
ANATA's national board, in turn, announced on Monday the suspension of the strike "to prevent individuals outside the class and profiteers, with ulterior motives, from continuing to disturb social peace," but the strike continued for the three days planned.
On Friday, Francisco Paciente also contested the arrest of his vice-president in Benguela province, where disturbances were also reported during the strike, considering that Rodrigo Catimba's arrest, which occurred on Thursday, "is illegal."
"This arrest is illegal because at no time did ANATA receive any warrant against its vice-president. Interrogations should be conducted and the doors should be opened for lawyers to understand the reasons that led to our vice-president's arrest," he stated.
Family members of Rodrigo Catimba told Emissora Católica de Angola that he was taken from his home and taken by force, without any arrest warrant, by a group of individuals allegedly affiliated with the Criminal Investigation Service (SIC) of that province.
The President of the Republic stated that "whoever orchestrated and led" the riots that took place last week in Angola "was defeated."
João Lourenço also condemned the acts of vandalism and looting that caused deaths, injuries, and destruction, and expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.