Angola’s long-time president, Dos Santos, to step down

(FILES) This file photo taken on July 03, 2015 shows Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos waiting for the arrival of his French counterpart at the presidential palace in Luanda. 

Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos affirmed Friday he would venture down in front of races due in August, flagging the end to his 37-year long rule, and naming Joao Lourenco as the possibility to keep running in his place.

The absolutist Dos Santos, 74, got to be president in September 1979, making him Africa's second-longest serving pioneer — one month shy of Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema.

His rule has seen the end of common war and a venture blast, however has likewise been scrutinized as cryptic and degenerate with Angola's residents enduring critical destitution as his family turned out to be tremendously well off.

Dos Santos told a meeting of the decision MPLA party in Luanda that "the gathering endorsed the name of the applicant heading the rundown in the August races as (Defense Minister) Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco".

Lourenco, a previous general, developed as the likely successor toward the end of last year at another meeting of the MPLA (People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola).

Prior in the year, Dos Santos had said he would venture down in 2018.

The MPLA as of late issued an announcement denying far reaching reports that Dos Santos was truly sick.

After protected changes in 2010, Angola does not specifically choose a president, but rather the pioneer of the triumphant party naturally gets to be head of state.