Angolan president Dos Santos given the nod to lead ruling party into elections

Angolan president Eduardo dos Santos has been reelected by the ruling party People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) on Friday to serve another term as its leader.

The 73-year-old leader, who has been in power since 1979, was the sole candidate in the election securing 2,543 votes making 99.6% at the end of the party’s congress in the capital Luanda.

His reelection means if the ruling party wins the most seats during the country’s 2017 election, Dos Santos will automatically be president extending his rule for another five years.

The Angolan Constitution does not provide for presidential election but stipulates that the president of the party that wins the parliamentary election automatically becomes head of state.

Eduardo dos Santos has however announced early this year that he will step down as the party’s leader in 2018, a year after the election.