President returns after medical vacation
The Angolan President, Mr. José Eduardo dos Santos, has returned home after 17 days in Spain where he normally travels for medical treatment and holiday.
President dos Santos, 74, arrived in Luanda late Wednesday, accompanied by the First Lady, Ana Paula dos Santos.
They were received at the Luanda military air base by Vice-President Manuel Domingos Vicente and other top government officials.
The veteran leader has visited the European state several times since 2013, Africa Review said.
President dos Santos left Angola on July 3 for Barcelona, with his office alluding in a statement that the visit was private, without divulging details.
He spent 28 days in Spain in May without an official explanation, prompting claims of his death on both the social and traditional media.
“He is in Spain and when he gets fine he will be back home” Foreign Affairs minister Georges Chikoti told journalists in Luanda on May 29.
It was the first time a top government official confirmed that President dos Santos usually went to Spain for medical treatment.
“President dos Santos normally seeks medical treatment in Spain and this is normal for him to be there,” he said.
“It is all right but you know it happens with everyone. Sometimes you don’t fill fine but he is fine.”
President dos Santos has been in power since in 1979 and is Africa’s second longest serving president after Obiang’ Nguema of Equatorial Guinea.
The southern Africa state goes to the polls on August 23 that will see the long-serving leader retire.
