Benguela – Personalities from several sectors of Benguela’s society expressed on Saturday their deep sadness over the death of former President of the Republic, José Eduardo dos Santos, at the age of 79.
As they bid farewell to the former Angolan statesman, who died of illness in Barcelona, Spain, civil society pointed to the conquest of peace in 2002, after the signing of the Luena agreements between the defunct UNITA military forces and the government, as Eduardo dos Santos’ greatest legacy.
In reaction to the news of the death of the former President who led Angola during 38 years, the Benguela Diocese bishop, Francisco Jaka, highlighted the peace in Angola as one of the main actions of former President José Eduardo dos Santos.
Speaking to ANGOP, Dom Francisco Jaka reiterated the need to remember the “good deeds, because they are very important, mainly at this time of the elections”.
According to him, the preservation of peace will contribute for the national unity and democracy in the country.
He recalled the moment when the end of the conflict between the Government of Angola and UNITA was in sight, claiming that the former President had the opportunity to continue with the war until the extermination of the opposition, but he preferred to bring together Angolans, who now live twenty years of peace, an unprecedented situation in the African continent.
He made a retrospective of José Eduardo dos Santos’ actions as a statesman, politician, diplomat, man of culture and of sport, stating that his death concerns the entire Angolan nation.
For the politician and nationalist Jorge Valentim, Angola lost a true patriot, committed to unity and national reconciliation.
Source: Angola Press News Agency