José dos Santos is the President of Angola, the seventh largest country of South Africa. As a young boy, he showed a strong interest in politics, joining the 'People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola' ('MPLA'), while he was still in school. He pursued his higher education from the 'Azerbaijan Oil and Chemistry Institute', eventually returning to his homeland. Once back home, he joined the 'MPLA' once again, and played a significant role in the Angolan struggle for independence from the Portuguese colonial rule. Soon after independence, he was made the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and later the Minister of Planning. Thereafter, he was appointed as the President of Angola, an office that he has been holding for the last thirty-six years. When he became the President, he was also made the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The following year, he became the President of the 'People's Assembly'. Initially he was popular, despite the civil war led by opposition political parties, but soon elections were withheld and the president continued to remain in office, without the votes of the citizens. The new constitution said that the leader of any party that wins the legislative elections will be announced as the President. Since 'MPLA' won recently, he was re-appointed as the President, and continues to serve in this capacity