Former president of Angola Jose Eduardo Dos Santos passed away on Friday at the age of 79 in a hospital in Barcelona following a heart arrest, according to the authorities.
The Luanda administration announced Dos Santos' passing at 11:10 am on Facebook with "deep pain and disquiet" (1010 GMT).
The government presents its deepest feelings of sorrow to the bereaved family,” the statement read, describing the former leader as a “statesman of great
historical stature” who led the country through very difficult times.
Dos Santos served as the country's leader for 38 years before stepping down in September 2017 in the oil-rich, Portuguese-speaking nation of Angola.
After experiencing a heart attack on June 23, he was taken to a hospital in Spain and placed in intensive care.