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Speculation as Angolan ex-president opens charity house

Monday November 19 2018
Santos

Angolan former President José Eduardo dos Santos Foundation unveils his image's plague during the launch of his foundation's new building in Luanda on November 16, 2018. ARNALDO VIEIRA | NAITION MEDIA GROUP

By ARNALDO VIEIRA

The opening of a new building hosting former Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos Foundation (Fesa) has heightened the speculation about the charity's source of funds.

The palatial building, opened last Friday, is located at Houari Boumedienne Street 64, in central Luanda's Miramar quarter.

Fesa was founded in 1996 and runs several projects in education, health, sports and culture. It also sponsors students to study abroad.

The source of Fesa's funds has been the subject of much speculation in Angola. Whereas some have argued that it is funded from public coffers, others, including its founders, maintain that it gets its resources from local and international donations.

Vulnerable children

Mr dos Santos said during the opening of the new building that his charity would increase development activities in order to benefit more people.

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“Fesa aims to achieve social inclusion and equip the youth with scientific and technical qualifications for the country’s social and economic development,” he said, adding that the vulnerable children would be the foundation’s priority.

“Fesa will also help fight illiteracy, hunger and poverty."

Fesa’s general director João de Deus, said the new building would help the organisation improve its work.

Mr dos Santos ceded power to President João Lourenço Lourenço in August last year, following an election that ended the former's 38-year reign.

Enrich himself

The retired president has since retreated to a quiet life, rarely making public appearances. But he was known to refuse all interview requests from the international media during his long reign.

The BBC characterised Mr dos Santos as a shy president.

He ruled Angola with an iron fist and was accused of running the economy to enrich himself and those around him.

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