José Eduardo dos Santos, the second and longest president of Angola has died at the age of 79 in Barcelona, Spain. He has been suffering from undisclosed sickness but died after a cardiac arrest on Friday, 8 June 2022. His most remarkable achievement was ending the long-time civil war in the early 2000s. This earned him the moniker “architect of peace” among his supporters.
José Eduardo dos Santos was also phenomenal in launching the country into an era of economic boom. However, economic surplus during his 38-year rule was enjoyed mostly by his family and friends. He had other legacies that were marred by human rights violations and corruption. Perhaps, that explains the mixed feelings trailing his death announcement.
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Who is the man José Eduardo dos Santos?

José Eduardo dos Santos studied petroleum engineering in 1969 in the then Soviet Union. Being a Soviet-trained fighter, he actively fought against the Portuguese colonial rule. Dos Santos’ Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and UNITA joined forces to fight against Portuguese colonization.
However, four years after the country gained independence, the two rebel groups turned against each other. Namibia and South Africa’s white minority rulers sent troops to support National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA) while Cuban forces were on the ruling MPLA side. The 27-year-old civil war led to the death of about 500,000 people.
Just in: Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who served as the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017, has died at 79. pic.twitter.com/KAfZCqh0Ae
— Giles Muhame (@Gilespies) July 8, 2022
José Eduardo dos Santos was only 37 years when he took over power after the death of Angola’s first president, Agostinho Neto. Dos Santos ran a Marxist-oriented one-party state till the Soviet Union collapsed. Eventually, UNITA and MPLA signed a peace accord paving way for Angola’s first multi-party election between UNITA’s Jonas Savimbi and dos Santos.
Dos Santos won that election by a slim margin. Consequently, there were calls for a second round of elections Savimbi boycotted the elections and took up arms again. In February 2002, Savimbi was killed by Santos’ troops. Eventually, the two sides were able to sign a peace agreement. This marked the beginning of a new Angola.
Turning a country into a family and friend business
In the years that followed the 2002 peace agreement, José Eduardo dos Santos’ government was fingered for high-level corruption (particularly in the oil sector) and the appointment of family and friends into delicate positions.
His son, José Filomeno dos Santos (Zenu) was the head of the country’s Sovereign Wealth Fund. Eventually, his daughter Isabel dos Santos took over as the head of Sonangol, a state oil company. Subsequently, she became Africa’s richest woman.
There was also a mass crackdown on opposition politicians and journalists. Some were either prosecuted or jailed. Angola had gradually turned into a dictatorship state. One of such actions that attracted global outrage was the arrest of 17 activists on the accusation of plotting a coup in 2015.
While the distrust and frustration of his administration grew, dos Santos remained distant from his people and rarely spoke publicly about the problems bedeviling the nation. Rather, he tightened the security around himself and his family.
José Eduardo dos Santos’ surprise departure from office
In a surprise twice of fate in 2017, José Eduardo dos Santos stepped aside. However, he chose João Lourenço, his former Defence Minister as his replacement. The following year, he resigned as MPLA leader. During his resignation speech, he admitted he made some mistakes while in power.
“Making mistakes is a key part of progress. That is why we have that saying we learn from mistakes,” he said.
José Eduardo dos Santos left his party with his head in the cloud. The party even named him an “emeritus president”, a fragile position.
The probe that opened a can of worms
Although João Lourenço was said to be a part of a corrupt government that sucked the nation dry, he surprised many when he started asking questions about the mismanagement that was rife in the establishments headed by the dos Santos family members.
President Lourenço made it clear that the country will not negotiate with former looters. Rather, he promised to bring them to justice. While many may wonder why President Lourenço decided to go after the dos Santos children rather than their father, Lourenço clarified that ex-presidents are immune for five years after leaving office.
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Consequently, Zenu was arrested, tried, and served a 5-year jail term for a $500m fraud. The money was transferred from Angola’s national bank to a UK account. African Vibes reported the details of his crimes and trial.
Isabel dos Santos is also in exile and banned from entering the United States for “involvement in significant corruption”. The BBC reported on leaked documents that exposed her fraudulent schemes in 2020. African Vibes also reported about her corruption charges and trial in absentia.
Isabel dos Santos says all the allegations against her and her family are mere witch-hunts. She lives mostly in Dubai in an attempt to evade arrest.
What people are saying about José Eduardo dos Santos’ death
As with the death of most presidents, there were mixed reactions on social media. Some still think of José Eduardo dos Santos as a unifier that brought peace to the country and fought for the country’s independence. These actions alone were enough to absolve him of any wrongdoing in his later years.
Angola's former leader José Eduardo dos Santos died today. He helped fight Apartheid and free Angola from colonialism with the support of Cuba. Viva 🇦🇴🇨🇺 pic.twitter.com/WHjk8zuseq
— Anti-Imperialist Network (North America) (@antiimpnetna) July 8, 2022
Neighboring DR Congo even declared a day of national mourning to honor the late ex-president.
DR Congo declares a national day of mourning over the death of Angola's former President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos.#Africa_we_Must_Unite pic.twitter.com/22yD1Bw0AJ
— Eng.Fred Nshemereirwe. (@FredNshemereirw) July 9, 2022
So sorry to hear the passing of Jose Eduardo Dos Santos former President of Angola. Both people of Congo and Angola has always been friends and brothers ; your pain is ours . My condolences to Angolans and to his family. Rest in Peace fighter!! pic.twitter.com/Y8toFf6occ
— Dr. Debora Kayembe 🏴 (@DKAYEMBE) July 8, 2022
THE EFF STATEMENT ON THE PASSING AWAY OF FORMER PRESIDENT OF ANGOLA CDE. JOSE EDUARDO dos SANTOS
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) July 9, 2022
– He led from the front in the trenches of Cuito Cuinavale defeating the white apartheid army, sending them with their tails in the legs out of Angola and Namibia in 1988. pic.twitter.com/WDWYAgDJek
However, the majority continue to rummage over the lingering impact of his long-term economic mismanagement. For them, an oil-rich country where over 70% of the population were still living on $2 a day while a member of the former ruling family is accused of over $2 billion loot was unacceptable.
#EduardoDoSantos was a crook who impoverished his people, enriched himself &family, killed a few activists & died in a Spanish health facility because Angola’s health system didn’t survive #DosSantos’ corrupt, tyrannical regime.
— Pauli Van Wyk (@PaulivW) July 8, 2022
There, President @CyrilRamaphosa, fixed it for you. https://t.co/LZibZU7v4u
Angola's former President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has died aged 79 at a clinic in Spain.
— Africa Facts Zone (@AfricaFactsZone) July 8, 2022
He ruled for 38 years (1979-2017).
His daughter, Isabel is facing a $1.1 billion corruption case.
His son, Jose Filomeno is serving a 5 year jail term for a $500 million corruption case. pic.twitter.com/rvGKt6ZNFM
The majority of the news of the ex-president’s death was punctuated by the reminder of the atrocities done by his children. Perhaps, it was a subtle way of telling the people whether to mourn the ex-leader or not.
BREAKING NEWS
— Honourable Media Africa ™️ (@HonourableMedia) July 8, 2022
Former President of Angola 🇦🇴 Jose Eduardo Dos Santos has DIED at the Age of 79 at a Hospital in Spain where fled in Exile after Ruling #Angola ;Africa's Largest Oil Producer for 38 Years>1979-2017.
His Daughter Isabel Dos Santos is the RICHEST Woman in Africa pic.twitter.com/VHjp2fIPTB
The long-time autocrat of Angola Eduardo Dos Santos died today, but the financial impact of his rule lingers on. Here’s Forbes’ award-winning story on how his daughter Isabel dos Santos banked $3 billion in a country living on $2 a day.https://t.co/bdGtrujf9H
— Charles Onyango-Obbo (@cobbo3) July 8, 2022
Angolan former president and corrupt dictator Eduardo dos Santos has died in Barcelona, Spain.
— Hopewell Chin’ono (@daddyhope) July 8, 2022
Eduardo dos Santos looted Billions of dollars with his children when he was in power, his daughter became a billionaire.
Most of it is still being recovered by the present Government. pic.twitter.com/o0xyCTclZH
The public is also drawing a comparison of the death of the ex-president at a Barcelona hospital with other dead ex-presidents. For this set of analysts, it shows how much they mismanaged their country’s health system.
Mugabe died in Singapore. Former Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos died yesterday in a Barcelona Teknon clinic. 84 year old Cameroonian President Paul Biya is a medical tourist somewhere in Europe. Our own Zuma sought medical attention in Cuba. African despots in a nutshell.
— John Baloyi (@Dijosti) July 8, 2022
Robert Mugabe died in Singapore. Eduardo dos Santos has died in Barcelona, Spain.
— Africa Research Desk (@MightiJamie) July 9, 2022
These African leaders destroy their own home countries and spend their last days receiving world class healthcare overseas.
These old African mis-leaders are part of the problem on this continent. pic.twitter.com/yds7v3Hg56
José Eduardo dos Santos made his mark in Angola’s history. Regardless of the popular narrative, what is your opinion of the ex-president? How do you want to remember him? Let us know in the comment box below.
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