Perhaps the most significant result of the Aug. 17-20 congress in Luanda, besides the affirmation of dos Santos as party chair — virtually ensuring his re-election as president after 2017 parliamentary elections — was the elevation of Angolan Defense Minister Joao Lourenco to the MPLA vice presidency. Lourenco, long considered a strong candidate to succeed dos Santos, has gained prominence in recent years through appearances abroad . He is also a popular choice among the country's security services, an important institution in Angola. In addition, the party named Antonio Paulo Kassoma as its new general secretary. His decades of party experience, including stints as prime minister, president of the national assembly and deputy defense minister, make him a natural choice to shepherd the MPLA through the upcoming transition. That Angola endured decades of civil war plays into the MPLA's desire to install an experienced leader.