2017 Angola elections- Africa’s second longest serving leader is stepping down

Polls close in Angola election
Africa’s second longest serving leader is stepping down
For the first time in 38 years, Angolans will have a new president

Euronews

Polls have closed in Angola’s era-ending general election, as the man who has ruled the country since independence is standing down as president.

It is widely expected his handpicked successor, former defence minister João Lourenço will win and maintain the ruling MPLA’s grip on power.

Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, after nearly four deacdes at the top, will retain the party leadership.

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Video: Polls close in Angola election

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Angola- Voters elect new president after 38 years of dos Santos rule

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Video: Luanda, Angola

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Angola gained independence from Portugal on November 11, 1975

Population: 25.8 million (July 2016 est.)

Ethnic groups:
Ovimbundu 37%
Kimbundu 25%
Other 22% (other native African ethnic groups or Asian)
Bakongo 13%
Mestico (mixed European and native African) 2%
European 1%

Video: Cuba in Angola – War of Independence 1975
Cuba changed the face of the African continent with its help to defeat European colonialism

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Longest serving presidents in Africa
Teodoro Obiang (Equatorial Guinea) 38
Jose dos Santos (Angola) 38
Robert Mugabe (Zimbabwe) 37
Paul Biya (Cameroon) 35
Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) 31
Omar al-Bashir (Sudan) 28
Idriss Déby (Chad) 27
Isaias Afewerki (Eritrea) 24
Denis Sassou Nguesso (Congo) 20
Paul Kagame (Rwanda) 17
Joseph Kabila (DRC) 16