Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos has given no reason for his decision, and speculation is rife about who might succeed him LUANDA — Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who has been in power since 1979 and is one of Africa’s longest-ruling leaders, said on Friday he intended to step down in 2018 but gave no reason for his decision and did not name a preferred successor.Angola, a member of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (Opec) and Africa’s second-largest oil exporter after Nigeria, has been hit hard by the slump in global crude prices. Oil export revenues account for more than 90% of foreign exchange revenues."I took the decision to leave active political activity in 2018," said Mr Dos Santos, 73, said in a speech to members of his ruling MPLA party’s key decision-making organ that was broadcast on radio. He did not elaborate.Angola, a former Portuguese colony, holds its next parliamentary election in 2017 and the leader of the winning party will...
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