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Angolans choose new leader to replace Jose Eduardo dos Santos | Angolans choose new leader to replace Jose Eduardo dos Santos |
(35 minutes later) | |
Angolans are heading to the polls to vote for a successor for their veteran leader. | Angolans are heading to the polls to vote for a successor for their veteran leader. |
Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been in power in the oil-rich country since 1979, making him the world's second-longest serving president. | Jose Eduardo dos Santos has been in power in the oil-rich country since 1979, making him the world's second-longest serving president. |
He is not contesting this election - Defence Minister Joao Lourenco is standing for the governing MPLA party. | He is not contesting this election - Defence Minister Joao Lourenco is standing for the governing MPLA party. |
His main challenger is expected to be Isias Samakuva, from the MPLA's rival in the 27-year civil war, Unita. | His main challenger is expected to be Isias Samakuva, from the MPLA's rival in the 27-year civil war, Unita. |
Africa Live: Updates on this and other stories | Africa Live: Updates on this and other stories |
Is Angola's Dos Santos really giving up power? | Is Angola's Dos Santos really giving up power? |
Under Angola's voting system, people are choosing both the candidate and party in the same election. | Under Angola's voting system, people are choosing both the candidate and party in the same election. |
Analysts says the MPLA, which has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is likely to win. | Analysts says the MPLA, which has been in power since independence from Portugal in 1975, is likely to win. |
In the previous election, the Casa-CE alliance gained the third most seats. It is led by Abel Chivukuvuku, who split from Unita. | In the previous election, the Casa-CE alliance gained the third most seats. It is led by Abel Chivukuvuku, who split from Unita. |
At the booth: Clare Spencer, BBC News, Luanda | At the booth: Clare Spencer, BBC News, Luanda |
Voters queued for the opening of polling stations this morning in Angola's capital Luanda. | Voters queued for the opening of polling stations this morning in Angola's capital Luanda. |
The elderly were let in first to decide who will replace President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. | The elderly were let in first to decide who will replace President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. |
There is a relaxed mood in the business district of the capital city and everyone has the day off as polling day is a public holiday. | There is a relaxed mood in the business district of the capital city and everyone has the day off as polling day is a public holiday. |
The opposition Unita party won 18% of the vote in the last elections. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether the opposition is able to increase its share of the vote this time around. | The opposition Unita party won 18% of the vote in the last elections. Analysts will be watching closely to see whether the opposition is able to increase its share of the vote this time around. |
Opposition alliance Casa-CE says up to 20 of its election observers were arrested last night in Luanda for protesting. | Opposition alliance Casa-CE says up to 20 of its election observers were arrested last night in Luanda for protesting. |
They were demanding their accreditation to observe the voting, which they had not been given. | They were demanding their accreditation to observe the voting, which they had not been given. |
Protest was banned by the government during campaigning, but the last day of campaigning was Monday. | Protest was banned by the government during campaigning, but the last day of campaigning was Monday. |
It is not clear if they are still in custody or the exact nature of their charges. | It is not clear if they are still in custody or the exact nature of their charges. |
The BBC's Mayeni Jones in the capital Luanda says the young have very different priorities to their elders as they head to the ballot box. | The BBC's Mayeni Jones in the capital Luanda says the young have very different priorities to their elders as they head to the ballot box. |
The emphasis has previously been on stability, following the civil war, which only ended in 2002. | |
But young people have been telling the BBC that they want one thing - jobs. They blame what they refer to as simply "the crisis" for the lack of employment. | But young people have been telling the BBC that they want one thing - jobs. They blame what they refer to as simply "the crisis" for the lack of employment. |
Critics of the government say rampant corruption means the country's oil wealth did not spread beyond the ruling elite. | |
After the war, Angola was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world because of its huge oil reserves. | After the war, Angola was one of the fastest-growing economies in the world because of its huge oil reserves. |
But when global oil prices dropped two years ago, it affected the whole economy. | But when global oil prices dropped two years ago, it affected the whole economy. |
Given that the majority of the population is below 35, this demographic has a lot of voting power and its demands could be key, our correspondent says. | Given that the majority of the population is below 35, this demographic has a lot of voting power and its demands could be key, our correspondent says. |
"You need to promise jobs, you need to promise housing, you need to promise study for their children," says political analyst Dalvan Costa. | "You need to promise jobs, you need to promise housing, you need to promise study for their children," says political analyst Dalvan Costa. |
"I think they will decide the outcome of the election." | "I think they will decide the outcome of the election." |
Although Mr Dos Santos is standing down as president, he will remain the head of the MPLA, while his children also hold several key positions. |