José dos Santos, who led Marxist Angola to crony capitalism, dies

Former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos addresses party supporters in Camama, outside the capital, Luanda, in this file picture taken August 29, 2012 [File: Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters]

Angola’s longest-serving leader, Jose Eduardo dos Santos has died at the age of 79 in a Barcelona clinic, according to a statement on Facebook by the country’s presidency.

He died at 11:10am Spanish time (10:10 GMT) on Friday at the Barcelona Teknon clinic after a prolonged illness, the post said.