Luanda, Angola – 26 September 2017: The Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat was in Luanda, Angola, to witness the historic handover and inauguration ceremony of the newly elected president of Angola, H.E. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço. Incoming President Lourenço took over from outgoing President José Edouardo dos Santos who had been in power for 38 eight years.
The new president, João Lourenço, was elected when the ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) obtained 64.5% victory in the country’s general elections of 23 August 2017, and secured a parliamentary majority needed to select a president.
Congratulating the new President and the people of Angola for holding peaceful, transparent and credible elections, the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki took the opportunity to congratulate former President Edouardo dos Santos for his service to his country and to the continent.
Though stepping aside as the president of Angola, H.E. Dos Santos remains at the service of the continent and the AU to offer rich political experience where and when needed. He also remains the president of the ruling MPLA.
H.E. João Lourenço is now Angola’s third president, after António Augostinho Neto (1975-1979) and Edouardo dos Santos (1979-2017).
On behalf of the people of African Union, H.E. Moussa Faki expresses his best wishes to the newly inaugurated President João Lourenço and looks forward to welcoming him at the next AU Summit of Heads of State and Government in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2018.

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