Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos confirmed Friday that he would step down ahead of elections due in August, signalling the end to his 37-year long reign, and naming Joao Lourenco as his successor.

Dos Santos told a meeting of the ruling MPLA party in Luanda that "the party approved the name of the candidate heading the list in the August elections as (Defence Minister) Joao Manuel Goncalves Lourenco."