Zanzibar’s Vice President Othman Sharif and other political leaders were denied entry into Angola upon arrival for a conference. Their passports were confiscated and they are being held at Luanda Airport. This incident has sparked significant backlash, calling for accountability and clarification from Angolan officials regarding the treatment of the detained leaders.
Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Sharif, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and opposition leaders Bobi Wine and Tundu Lissu were among those denied entry into Angola. This incident occurred as they arrived at Luanda Airport as part of a delegation comprising over 40 African political representatives. Their intent was to attend a two-day meeting hosted by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), yet they are now reportedly being held and their passports have been confiscated.
The Angolan authorities, without providing a clear rationale, have mandated their return to Tanzania and Kenya, routing them through Ethiopia and Johannesburg based on their connecting flight. Expected attendees of the forum included prominent figures such as former Presidents Ian Khama of Botswana and Andrés Pastrana Arango from Colombia, in addition to significant party leaders from South Africa and Mozambique.
Edwin Sifuna expressed frustration through a statement on his Twitter account, indicating that despite being officially invited by UNITA’s President Adalberto Costa, they were barred from entering the country. “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola, but the government has denied us entry!” he stated, underscoring the official communication from UNITA seeking a Border Visa for the attendees who were intended to arrive at Angola’s February 4 International Airport.
The letter from Adalberto Costa took responsibility for the leaders’ visit, including requests for entry for other international guests. Political leader Tundu Lissu criticized the actions of the Angolan immigration authorities, highlighting the high-profile nature of the detained delegation and their historical ties. He remarked on the brotherly relationships between Angolans and Tanzanians, underscoring that such treatment is unacceptable and warrants condemnation.
The ACT-Wazalendo party, which includes Vice President Sharif, denounced the treatment received by the leaders, deeming it degrading and a breach of diplomatic protocols. Mwanaisha Mndeme, Secretary for Foreign Affairs in ACT-Wazalendo, emphasized the necessity for an official explanation from the Angolan authorities and urged Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action against Angola. They called for the return of the confiscated passports to facilitate the leaders’ proper participation in the meeting.
The denial of entry for significant political leaders into Angola has raised serious concerns regarding diplomatic relations and treatment of guests. The leaders’ subsequent detention at Luanda Airport, alongside passport confiscation, has prompted severe condemnation from political parties and leaders alike. Calls for clarification from Angola’s authorities reflect a broader demand for accountability in diplomatic engagements, highlighting the need for respectful treatment of international figures visiting sovereign nations.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
