BIOGRAPHY OF HIS EXCELLENCY MR. ENG. JOSE EDUARDO DOS SANTOS, PRESIDENT OF THE REPULIC OF ANGOLA
Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos was
born on August 28, 1942 in Angola's capital of Luanda. His political career
began at an early age when he founded the youth organisation within the MPLA
(Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola) in 1961 to help further Angola's
struggle for independence.
He was awarded a scholarship in 1963 to study in the Soviet Union where he
received a degree in petroleum engineering. Upon graduation in 1969, he stayed
in the Soviet Union to continue his studies in Communications.
In 1974, Mr. José Eduardo DOS Santos was named Co-ordinator of the Foreign
Affairs Department of the MPLA. He subsequently developed diplomatic activities
in various African capitals to gain international support for MPLA efforts.
Following Angolan independence on November 11, 1975, he was named Minister of
Foreign Affairs.
He continued to remain active in the MPLA party and contributed to the
development of education, culture and reconstruction which led to his
appointment as Minister of Planning in 1978.
Mr. José Eduardo DOS Santos became President of the Popular Republic of Angola
after the death of Agostinho Neto in 1979.
President DOS Santos actively pursued national and international efforts to
bring about peace in Angola. His involvement resulted in the successful
withdrawal of South African forces from Angola, the repatriation of Cuban forces
and the independence of Namibia. President DOS Santos led Angola in a national
transition towards democracy that included both political pluralism and the
establishment of a market Economy.
President DOS Santos signed the Bicesse Accords in 1991 which allowed for the
country's first democratic elections in 1992. The President and his party won
the election and the results were accredited by UN and international observers;
however, UNITA contested the election results and the country returned to war.
President DOS Santos led the search for a negotiated settlement to end the
fighting and destruction in Angola. Finally, through his political determination
and with the combined mediation efforts of the United Nations, US, Russia and
Portugal,the Angolan Government and UNITA signed the Lusaka Protocol in November
1994.
In 1995, the President has held three meetings with UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi
in an effort to accelerate the peace process and restore trust and confidence
among all Angolans. President DOS Santos has also taken the lead in planning for
the rebuilding of Angola.
In September of 1995, he headed the Angolan delegation to an international
Donor's Roundtable in Brussels to urge support for the national reconstruction
program.
The nearly $1 billion pledged by the international community reflects a level of
confidence in the country and its leadership that is gratifying to a nation
emerging from three decades of conflict.
President José Eduardo Dos Santos is married to First Lady Ana Paula Dos Santos.
Together they have three children.