Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud was denied entry into Angola, along with other high-profile individuals like Venâncio Mondlane and Ian Khama, at Luanda Airport. The delegation aimed to attend a conference on democracy and governance but was detained and had their passports confiscated. Concerns arise regarding Tanzania-Angola relations, with politicians condemning the actions on social media. The Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is seeking clarification from Angola on the incident.
On Thursday, a significant diplomatic incident occurred at Angola’s Luanda Airport as Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman, along with a Tanzanian delegation, was denied entry into the country. Notably, other prominent figures, including Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane and former Botswana President Ian Khama, also faced similar restrictions, without any official explanation provided by Angolan authorities.
The Tanzanian delegation, led by ACT-Wazalendo party leader Dorothy Semu, had arrived to participate in a conference focused on democracy and governance, organized in conjunction with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Upon landing, airport authorities detained the group and confiscated their passports, including those of Othman and his security team, raising concerns about the status of Tanzania-Angola relations.
Prominent Tanzanian politician Zitto Kabwe took to social media to express his disapproval, labeling the action as “disrespect shown by Angola to Tanzania”. He further urged the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address the diplomatic incident, highlighting the predicament faced by the detained delegation, which included officials from Tanzania.
It has been reported that additional individuals, including opposition leaders from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, were also barred from entering Angola, following an invitation letter sourced from the President of UNITA, dated March 12, 2025. The letter specified that these individuals were expected to arrive on March 13, 2025, yet they were similarly denied access to the country.
Currently, the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided an official statement concerning the incident, though it is believed that the government is seeking clarification from Angolan officials regarding their denial of entry. Meanwhile, Angolan authorities have remained silent on the rationale behind the detentions.
In summary, the denial of entry to Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud, alongside other notable figures at Luanda Airport indicates a troubling diplomatic development between Tanzania and Angola. The confiscation of passports and lack of official rationale has sparked significant concern and calls for response from Tanzanian officials. With more opposition leaders barred from entry, the implications for regional relations remain uncertain. The Tanzanian government is reportedly seeking answers from Angola, yet clarity remains elusive as of this time.
Original Source: www.thecitizen.co.tz
