Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman, and a Tanzanian delegation were denied entry into Angola, alongside other prominent figures. The group had arrived to attend a governance conference but were detained and had their passports confiscated. The incident has stirred diplomatic concerns and incited significant social media commentary, with calls for clarification from the Tanzanian government as Angolan authorities remain silent on the reasons for the denials.
A diplomatic incident occurred at Luanda Airport on Thursday when Othman Masoud Othman, Zanzibar’s First Vice President, along with a Tanzanian delegation, was denied entry into Angola. Not only did he face restrictions, but other prominent figures, such as Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane and former Botswana President Ian Khama, experienced similar fates. The group was detained with no official explanation provided, raising eyebrows regarding Tanzania-Angola relations.
The delegation was en route to a democracy and governance conference, organized jointly with the Friedrich Ebert Foundation, led by ACT-Wazalendo party leader Dorothy Semu. Upon their arrival, Angolan authorities confiscated their passports, including those of the Vice President and his security team, prompting immediate concern among observers. The incident sparked significant reactions on social media.
Notably, Tanzanian politician Zitto Kabwe took to Twitter to express dismay over the situation, characterizing it as a “disrespect shown by Angola to Tanzania.” He sought clarity from the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding their anticipated reaction to the diplomatic situation, emphasizing the urgency of the matter.
Sources revealed that Tanzanian officials were not the only detainees at the airport. An official correspondence from UNITA’s President’s Office indicated that several opposition figures from Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ukraine were similarly invited to the event and denied entry into Angola. Names included notable leaders from each country, further complicating the diplomatic context.
The Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet offered a formal statement about the incident. However, unconfirmed reports suggest that the government is pressing for immediate explanations from Angolan authorities regarding the entry denials. Currently, Angolan officials have refrained from divulging the reasons behind the detention of these invited guests.
The denial of entry to Zanzibar’s First Vice President and other officials into Angola signifies a troubling diplomatic incident that may reflect strained relations between Tanzania and Angola. The lack of official explanations and the involvement of various international figures have heightened the issue’s complexity. As calls for clarity emanate from Tanzanian officials, the response from Angola remains awaited, illustrating the unpredictable nature of diplomatic engagement in the region.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
