Portuguese public television reported on Friday that former Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos was placed in intensive care in a clinic in Barcelona, Spain, due to his deteriorating health.
The economic daily Journal de Negosos said the health of the 79-year-old former head of state had deteriorated in recent weeks and was now described as “extremely serious”.
In response to a question by AFP, the Teknon clinic, where he will be taken to hospital according to several media outlets, refused to comment.
According to Portuguese public television RTP, his eldest daughter, businesswoman Isabel dos Santos, visited him on Friday morning at this institution that specializes especially in the treatment of cancer.
Angola’s embassies in Portugal and Spain did not immediately respond to AFP’s requests.
The former head of state, who had already resided in Barcelona in April 2019 for health reasons, officially returned to Spain last March, according to Jornal de Negocios.
José Eduardo dos Santos, accused of embezzling national resources largely by favoring his family and loved ones, ruled Angola as absolute master for 38 years, until incumbent President João Lourenço succeeded him in 2017.
The former Portuguese colony, with a population of 33 million, is rich in natural resources but a large portion of its population lives below the poverty line.
