José Eduardo dos Santos

The President has been married thrice, and has six children. Presently, he is married to Ana Paula dos Santos, who used to be a fashion model and airhostess of the Angolan presidential aircraft.

Amongst his children, the most famous are José Filomeno, a son with second wife Luísa Perdigão Abrantes, and Isabel, daughter of his first wife Tatiana Kukanova. Isabel is one of the richest businesswomen in Africa and Filomeno is the Chairman of Angola’s monetary fund.

In 2014, Patrício Batsîkam, an Angolan historian published a book, 'José Eduardo dos Santos e a ideia da Nação Angolana' ('José Eduardo dos Santos and the idea of the Angolan Nation'), delving into the regime of the President.

José Eduardo dos Santos was born to Avelino and his wife Jacinta Paulino, on August 28, 1942, in the Sambizanga district of Luanda, Angola. His parents were refugees from the island of São Tomé and Príncipe in the Gulf of Guinea.

Having received elementary education in Luanda, he pursued his secondary education from 'Liceu Salvador Correia', which is now known as ‘Mutu ya Kevela’.

While still in school, the young boy became a member of the political party 'People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola'. During the same period, the Portuguese were ruling the country, and owing to their suppression, José had to seek refuge in the neighbouring Republic of the Congo.

From Congo, he relocated to the Soviet Union, and in 1969, he graduated in radar communications and in petroleum engineering from the 'Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute' in the Republic of Azerbaijan.

In 1970, Santos came back to Angola, and re-joined the guerrilla troops of 'People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola' ('MPLA'). This branch of 'MPLA' was called the 'People's Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola' ('FAPLA').

He served as the radio transmitter of 'FAPLA', in the Cabinda Province, and four years later he was made sub-commander of the region's telecom branch.

As a representative of 'MPLA', he travelled to Congo, Yugoslavia, and China, subsequently becoming a member of the 'Central Committee' and 'Politburo' of the MPLA, in Moxico, Angola.

In 1975, José took over the administration of 'Department of Foreign Affairs' and the 'Department of Health', belonging to the 'MPLA'. When Angola attained freedom from the Portuguese rule, the 'MPLA' came into power.

However a civil war broke out, led by the opposition parties 'National Union for the Total Independence of Angola' ('UNITA') and 'National Liberation Front of Angola' ('FNLA').

The President, who has been in office since 1979, is known for having played a major role in the independence movement of Angola, and also in promoting peace and democracy in the country.