José Eduardo dos Santos

José Eduardo dos Santos was an Angolan politician who served as the country’s President from 1979 to 2017. He played a key role in Angola’s independence from Portugal and led the nation through decades of civil conflict. His leadership was characterized by efforts to stabilize the country’s economy and maintain power within his political party, MPLA. While he was credited with helping Angola grow economically, his tenure was also marked by allegations of corruption and authoritarianism. He stepped down in 2017 after nearly four decades in office, passing the presidency to his successor, João Lourenço.