[6] In April 2017, the Council of the Republic, which acts as an advisory body to the president, proposed holding the election on 23 August 2017.

[9] On 21 July 2017, the National Assembly approved legislation that would keep top security officials (the chiefs of the army, police and intelligence) in place for eight years, thereby preventing presidents from choosing the occupants of those posts at will.

[12][13] Voters must be at least 18 years old and not have an undischarged bankruptcy, criminal conviction, dual citizenship or have been declared insane.

Each participating party nominates a presidential candidate as top of its list, who must be clearly identified on the ballot paper.

Final results released by the electoral commission on 6 September 2017 showed the MPLA receiving 61% of the vote, giving it a parliamentary majority of 150 out of 220 seats and ensuring that João Lourenço would become president.