Angola is holding a state funeral for ex-president José Eduardo dos Santos in the capital Luanda after his death in Spain in July. Several African leaders and Portugal’s president are in attendance.
His death sparked a political row after his daughter, Tchizé dos Santos, opposed holding the funeral in Angola.
Mr dos Santos, a veteran of the independence war, was a dominant figure in Angolan political history having ruled the country for 38 years.
His funeral comes just days after national elections, with the governing party, the MPLA, expected to return to power. However, the opposition, Unita, has rejected the MPLA’s declaration of victory.
Due to the presence of foreign leaders at the funeral, authorities have asked local people not to protest amid tensions over the expected election result.
Mr dos Santos wanted to be buried in Spain, and is said to have been afraid his death would be politicised because his children would not be able to travel to Angola for his funeral or to visit his grave.
A Spanish court eventually ruled that he should be repatriated to his widow in Angola. José Eduardo Dos Santos died aged 79 after a cardiac arrest while undergoing medical treatment at a clinic in Barcelona, Spain.
Credit: bbc.com
