Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who ruled Angola, Africa’s second-biggest oil producer for nearly four decades, has died aged 79.
Santos’ death was revealed by the Angolan presidency via the social media site Facebook on Friday, July 8, 2022.
Jose Eduardo dos Santos ruled Angola for 38 years and died in the Barcelona clinic where he was hospitalized in June, more than five years after he left power in May 2017.
As President, José Eduardo dos Santos was also;
- The commander in chief of the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) and
- President of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA), the party that has ruled Angola since it gained independence in 1975.
José Eduardo dos Santos married three times and has six children from his wives, and one born out of wedlock.
Jose Santos’ first wife is Tatiana Kukanova.
Who Is José Eduardo dos Santos’ Ex-wife Tatiana Kukanova?
José Eduardo dos Santos’ first wife Tatiana Kukanova was born in Russia and he met her while he was studying in Azerbaijan.
Tatiana Sergeevna Kukanova grew up in the city of Penza, Russia.
Kukanova enrolled at the Azarbaijan University of Oil and Chemistry in Baku, where Jose Eduardo dos Santos was as studying.
At the time, Jose Santos was just 21 years old and he had already launched a genuine partisan struggle against the Portuguese colonialists in Angola.
Dos Santos’ and Kukanova’s children include Isabel dos Santos, the richest woman in Africa.
As of now, the Russian geologist and the ex-wife of former Angolan President, Tatiana is believed to be residing in New York, United States.