Former president of Angola Jose Eduardo Dos Santos passed away on Friday at the age of 79 in a hospital in Barcelona following a heart arrest, according to the authorities.
The Luanda administration announced Dos Santos’ passing at 11:10 am on Facebook with “deep pain and disquiet” (1010 GMT).
The former leader was referred to as a “statesman of immense historical stature” who guided the nation through extremely trying times in the statement, which read, “(The government) expresses its deepest thoughts of grief to the deceased family).”
Dos Santos ruled the Portuguese-speaking, oil-rich state of Angola for 38 years before stepping down in September 2017.
He was hospitalised in Spain and placed in intensive care after suffering a cardiac arrest on June 23.
