Former Angolan President wants new MPLA leader in April 2019

Head of Angola’s ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), former President Eduardo dos Santos, on Friday said his replacement would emerge in December, 2018 or April, 2019.

Dos Santos handpicked Angola’s new President, Joao Lourenco, to succeed him when he stepped down in 2017 after 38 years in power.

But, he held onto his position as head of the party, creating two centres of power in the oil-producing nation.

Since then, the former president has been under intense pressure to give up the headship the party, as Lourenco has moved against his old allies and removed Dos Santos’ family members from key positions.

Dos Santos previously said he planned to leave “active political life” in 2018 and party stalwarts had come out to say they would ensure that he kept his word.

But, after a flurry of rumours on social media suggesting that Friday’s central committee meeting could see a date for his removal forced upon him, dos Santos moved pre-emptively to set his own timeline.

“I recommend that it would be most prudent that the party’s extraordinary congress which will resolve the question of the leadership of the MPLA be in December, 2018 or April, 2019,” he said.