Luanda - The President of the Republic, João Lourenço, changed from five to seven days the period of national mourning for the death of José Eduardo dos Santos.
The measure is contained in a new presidential decree, produced on Friday night, which revokes the previous one that set a five-day national mourning period.
José Eduardo dos Santos came to power in September 1979, following the death of Angola's first president, António Agostinho Neto.
He held the office of President of the Republic for 38 years, until September 2017, when he was succeeded by the current Head of State, João Lourenço.
Besides being President of the Republic, he was Commander-in-Chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and President of the MPLA, the party that has ruled the country since the proclamation of national independence on 11 November 1975.
His political record also includes the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs and other functions in the State and in MPLA.
He led the process that culminated with the signing of the Peace Accords, on the 4th April 2002, following the death of the then UNITA founding leader, Jonas Savimbi.
