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António Agostinho Neto (September 17, 1922–September 10, 1979) was the first president of Angola (1975–1979), a poet and nationalist leader.
Born in the town of Icolo e Bengo in Angola, he became a prominent figure in the 1940s when he became an important member of a movement in Angola that sought to rediscover traditional Angolan culture. Despite his participation in nationalist movements, he studied medicine in Lisbon.
After attaining a medical degree, he returned to Angola, but was immediately considered a troublesome figure by colonial authorities due to his opposition to colonial rule. For his actions, he was arrested, and in turn many of his patients protested, leading to a crackdown by colonial troops. Despite his imprisonment, he would escape to Morocco, and would become an important leader of Angolan resistance from exile.
He was one of the first members of the MPLA, one of three factions that vied for power after the Portuguese withdrawal from Angola, and later led the country after independence on November 11, 1975. His government developed close links with the Soviet Union and other nations in the Communist bloc. He was succeeded in his capacity as president of the state and MPLA leader by José Eduardo dos Santos.
Neto died in Moscow while the Angolan Civil War between the MPLA government and UNITA under Jonas Savimbi was ongoing.
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