Angola's former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos dies at 79

AFP

Angola's former president Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled Africa's second-biggest oil producer for nearly four decades, died on Friday, the presidency said.

The 79-year-old died at the Teknon clinic in Barcelona, Spain, where he was being treated following a prolonged illness, according to the statement. 

His successor, President Joao Lourenco, declared five days of national mourning and described dos Santos as a "unique figure of the Angolan homeland."

Dos Santos' daughter Tchizé dos Santos said in an Instagram post that "fathers never die because they are the truest love that children know in all their lives. They live forever within us".

More from International

  • China set for Shenzhou-20 spaceflight launch

    China is set to launch its Shenzhou-20 mission that will carry three astronauts to the Chinese space station Tiangong on Thursday (0917 GMT), state media said on Wednesday.

  • India downgrades ties with Pakistan

    India announced a raft of measures to downgrade its ties with Pakistan on Wednesday, a day after 26 men were killed in an attack on a tourist destination in India's Jammu and Kashmir territory.

  • Jordan bans activities by Muslim Brotherhood

    Jordan has outlawed the Muslim Brotherhood, the country's most vocal opposition group, and confiscated its assets after members of the outfit were found to be linked to a sabotage plot.

  • Death toll in India terror attack rises to 26

    Twenty-six people were killed and 17 were injured when gunmen opened fire at tourists in India's Jammu and Kashmir territory, police said on Wednesday, the worst such attack in the country in nearly two decades.

  • Palestinian president urges Hamas to hand over its arms

    Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called on Hamas on Wednesday to cede responsibility for the Gaza Strip, hand over its arms to the Palestinian Authority and turn itself into a political party.