Luena - The Minister of National Defense and Homeland Veterans, João Ernesto dos Santos on Wednesday in eastern Moxico, guaranteed the control and stability in the eastern region of the country, following an insurrection against state institutions led by a group of citizens in Lunda Sul province.
The Minister made the statement after a joint meeting held in Luena city, with the ministers of the Interior, of Territorial Administration, and the governors of the provinces of Cuando Cubango, Lunda Sul and Lunda Norte.
The meeting followed a directive from the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, and aimed to analyze the current state of the eastern region, after a riot took place in Lunda Sul province.
The minister said the socio-political situation in the region is stable, guaranteeing the normal functioning of institutions.
"Angola is a single and indivisible country (...) and does not allow a group of adventurous citizens to overturn public order," the minister said.
According to the minister, in view of the behavior of these citizens, law enforcement authorities have taken all the necessary measures to restore order and social stability in the region, calling on the population to remain vigilant in order to prevent such actions.
As a result of these acts, at least 137 people were arrested in Saurimo, Lunda Sul, by the National Police when they allegedly intended to target state institutions.
According to a statement from the National Police to which ANGOP had access, 92 men and 45 women aged between 19 and 78 have been arrested.
The statement does not specify the real motives that led these citizens to subvert order, however it adds that the perpetrators were armed with sticks and stones, which they threw at police officers and smashed the windows of two police vehicles.
Meetings of this kind have already been held in the provinces of Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul and Moxico, with the next one scheduled for Cuando Cubango. MT/TC/YD/VM/AMP
