Angola President, Jose Eduardo dos Santos while addressing members of his ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola party (MPLA), on Friday announced his decision to step down after 38 years in power.
Angola’s defence minister, Joao Lourenco, will be taking over leadership of the party following Sanctos’s decision to quit.
The leader of the majority party according to the country’s law automatically becomes Angola’s president after the incumbent President steps down.
62 year old Lourenco, is married with six sons. He speaks Portuguese, English, Russian and Spanish.
The former MPLA secretary-general is credited with a political career not rooted in his family’s ties.
According to TheCable, Lourenco’s family has no links with the traditional ruling party bigwigs.
Santos has been accused of ruling the south African state with iron hands and favouritism.
He was blamed for appointing Isabel dos Santos, his daughter, as head of the state oil company Sonangol.
Isabel who was named by Forbes magazine as Africa’s richest woman, is said to worth an estimated $3.3bn.
Her representatives have however denied any influence of her father’s position on her wealth.
Angola is blessed with oil and diamond.
Posted by Juliet Ekwebelam
