Former Angolan President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos died Friday at the age of 79 in a hospital in Barcelona after suffering cardiac arrest, according to the government.
With “great pain and consternation” the Luanda government posted on Facebook confirmation of Dos Santos’ death at 11:10 am (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 ruled Angola, a Portuguese-speaking and oil-rich country, for 38 years before stepping down in September 2017.
After suffering a cardiac arrest on June 23, he was taken to a hospital in Spain and placed in intensive care.