One of Africa's oldest leaders may soon leave his position of power — again. In a Jan. 25 interview with French language magazine Jeune Afrique, Angolan Foreign Minister Manuel Domingos Augusto confirmed that the leader of the ruling Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) party, Jose Eduardo dos Santos, will step down from his post in 2018. A party head's departure is not normally a notable event, but dos Santos is a major national figure, having ruled Angola for 38 years before leaving the presidency in 2017. In the interview, the foreign minister also stated that there will be an intra-MPLA party meeting Jan. 25. That gathering will bring dos Santos together with his successor to the Angolan presidency, Joao Lourenco, and could give more clarity on dos Santos' trajectory after retirement. Dos Santos has previously stated that he hoped to retire from active politics in 2018.