Luanda — The Mass Media Ministry last Saturday expressed its deep consternation at the death of the Angolan journalist João Braz Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem, which took place last Friday, in Germany, due to an ilness.

On a note of condolence that has reached ANGOP in Luanda, the Media Ministry considers João Van-Dúnem "a reference in the Angolan journalism", a man that has always defended the need to dignify journalists.

The note, signed by the Mass Media minister, José Luís de Matos, states that the death of João Van-Dúnem leaves a void in the Angolan journalistic circle.

"The Mass Media Ministry bows before the memory of the prominent journalist and presents to the family in mourning and the journalistic class, particularly the Media Nova Group, its deep condolences", reads the message.

João Van-Dúnem joined the Media Nova group in 2008, as general director, having become the company's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the year 2009.

Born in Luanda, on 01 October 1952, João Van-Dúnem has held important positions at the BBC, in London, where he worked for over twenty years.

He has been a senior journalist, sub-director and director of the Portuguese service for Africa.

João Van-Dúnem was also the co-founder of the Africa Jornal, in Lisbon, in the early 1980, and editor-in-chief of the People's Radio and Television of Angola in 1975.