Angola’s new president João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço is set to be inaugurated on Tuesday 26 September, in a ceremony that will be graced by more than 30 heads of state.
Lourenco takes over from one of Africa’s longest serving leader, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled the Southern African nation for 38 years.
Jose Eduardo’s lengthy reign is only bettered by Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (38 years) and Cameroon’s Paul Biya (42 years).
Lourenço won the August 23 vote after the ruling MPLA Party secured 64.5% of the vote and the necessary parliamentary majority to clinch the presidency.
The former defense minister was always a favourite to win the vote following dos Santos’ approval in 2016.
The outgoing president however remained as the leader of the MPLA party, a position many see as influential in the country’s decision making processes.
