Angolan President João Lourenço has announced he will seek re-election as leader of the ruling MPLA party at its congress in December 2026, a move that positions him to retain significant political influence ahead of the country’s 2027 general elections, according to party and political sources.

Lourenço, who is barred by the constitution from seeking a third presidential term in 2027, will step down as head of state after completing his second term.

However, his bid to remain at the helm of the People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) is expected to shape the selection of the party’s next presidential candidate.

The MPLA has governed Angola since independence in 1975 and dominates the country’s political landscape, making control of the party leadership a key factor in determining presidential succession.

Under Angola’s constitution, presidents are limited to two five-year terms, a provision introduced in 2010. Lourenço has previously ruled out any attempt to amend the constitution to extend his stay in office.

Political analysts say his continued leadership of the MPLA would allow him to oversee the transition process and influence internal consensus on his successor, even as competing factions within the party prepare for a leadership contest.

The December 2026 congress is expected to be the most consequential in years, as it will likely mark the first time in over a decade that the MPLA formally prepares to select a new presidential candidate without an incumbent seeking re-election.

Angola, Africa’s second-largest oil producer, continues to face economic pressures including high unemployment and calls for diversification away from oil dependence, factors that are expected to shape both the internal party race and the 2027 national elections.