“José Eduardo dos Santos is hospitalised in a clinic in Barcelona and is in a coma following a [relapse], after recovering from Covid-19,” said Portugal’s state-owned Lusa News Agency, which extensively covers developments in Portuguese-speaking countries in Africa.

There has been increased speculation about Mr Dos Santos’ health, with Portuguese Expresso Newspaper describing his medical condition as “irreversible”.

Meanwhile, the former president’s daughter, Tchizé dos Santos, has criticised “those preparing his funeral”.

She also accused Angola’s President João Lourenço of politicising his father’s situation.

José Eduardo dos Santos served as the president of Angola from 1979 to 2017.