International • Created March 13, 2016 05:00

Angola’s dos Santos ‘to quit’ in 2018

Angolan president dos Santos will step down after being in power for nearly 40 years [File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]. Angola’s dos Santos ‘to quit’ in 2018 Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the second-longest serving African leader, will step down after being in power since 1979, according to state media. The 73-year old dos Santos […]

Angola’s dos Santos ‘to quit’ in 2018
Angola’s dos Santos ‘to quit’ in 2018

Angolan president dos Santos will step down after being in power for nearly 40 years [File photo: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters].
Angola’s dos Santos ‘to quit’ in 2018
Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, the second-longest serving African leader, will step down after being in power since 1979, according to state media.
The 73-year old dos Santos announced his decision to quit “active politics” on Friday at a meeting of the central committee of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the Angolan news agency Angola Press reported.
“I took the decision to leave active political activity in 2018,” dos Santos said, without giving any reason for his decision.
Angola holds its next parliamentary election in 2017 and the leader of the winning party will then become president.
It was not immediately clear whether dos Santos would retain his post as MPLA leader.

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