Eduardo dos Santos, Angola’s president, has by all intents and purposes lined up his replacement in office. Dos Santos has moved Manuel Vicente, chief at state-run Sonangol, into the government to coordinate economic policy according to a report from Angola’s state news agency Angop.

A Petroleum Africa source familiar with the inner workings of the Angolan government said “He’s preparing his succession… this has been talked about since early last year, and it now appears that the wheels are in motion.”

Rumors were rampant last year that Vicente was dos Santos’ handpicked successor however, when Vicente was reappointed to a third term at the NOC those rumors were somewhat quashed. This recent move reaffirms the thought that Vicente was dos Santos’ choice as the country’s next ruler.

The government approved a presidential decree for Vicente's departure from Sonangol and Angop cited a presidency statement saying Dos Santos had appointed him as economic coordination minister.

Vicente will be replaced by Sonangol board member Francisco de Lemos Jose Maria. Jose Maria joined Sonangol's executive board in late 2008, working as CFO and was also selected for a second term in December.