Angola's ex-president Dos Santos dies in Spain
Friday July 08 2022
Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos (L) flanked by his wife Ana Paula gesture during the final election campaign rally in Kilamba Kaixi, on the outskirts of Luanda in 2012/ AFP
Angola's former president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos died Friday at the age of 79 at a hospital in Barcelona after suffering cardiac arrest, the government said.
With "great pain and consternation" the Luanda government posted on Facebook confirmation of the Dos Santos' death at 11:10 am (1010 GMT).
"(The government) presents its deepest feelings of sorrow to the bereaved family," the statement read, describing the former leader as a "statesman of great historical stature" who led the country through very difficult times.
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.