Dos Santos will not seek new mandate, new candidate named

Angola’s President Jose Eduardo dos Santos will not seek a new mandate for the 2017 presidential elections.

The ruling party has named defence minister, Joao Lourenco as its candidate for the polls.

Joao Lourenco is also the Vice President of the ruling MPLA party and was approved by its key decision-making body as its flag bearer to succeed Dos Santos after the President proposed him a day earlier.

Angolans have long speculated the president’s next move since he said last March that he would stand down in 2018.

Eduado dos Santos has been in power since 1979.