Ex-Angola President, Dos Santos Is Dead

Angola’s former president, Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has been confirmed dead.

The 79-year-old was said to have been battling cardiac arrest and have been receiving medical attention at the Teknon clinic in Barcelona, Spain, where he was announced dead today.

Confirming his demise in a social media post, the Luanda government wrote on Friday “great pain and consternation”.

“(The government) presents its deepest feelings of sorrow to the bereaved family,” the statement noted, describing the former leader as a “statesman of great historical stature” who led the country through very difficult times.

Naija News understands that Dos Santos ruled the Portuguese-speaking, oil-rich state of Angola for 38 years before stepping down in September 2017.

In tribute to Dos Santos’ departure, his successor, Angola’s current President Joao Lourenco on Friday declared five days of national mourning, and described the former leader as a “unique figure of the Angolan homeland, to which he dedicated himself from a very early age.”