Zanzibar’s VP, Othman Masoud Sharif, and several African leaders were denied entry into Angola and are detained at Luanda Airport with confiscated passports. They were part of a delegation invited for a two-day meeting by UNITA. The Angolan government provided no explanation for their deportation order. Both Sifuna and Lissu condemned the actions, highlighting violations of diplomatic norms and the importance of inter-African relationships.
Zanzibar’s Vice President Othman Masoud Sharif, alongside Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and opposition leaders Bobi Wine and Tundu Lissu, has been denied entry into Angola. The leaders are reportedly held at Luanda Airport where their passports have been confiscated. They were part of a larger delegation of over 40 political representatives from across Africa invited to a two-day meeting organized by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Despite having received official invitations, the Angolan government, without clarification, ordered their return to their respective countries via Tanzania, Kenya, and other connections. Senior political figures slated to participate included former presidents Ian Khama of Botswana and Andrés Pastrana Arango of Colombia, as well as leaders from South Africa and Mozambique.
Sifuna publicly expressed frustrations on social media, stating that despite the USITA President’s invitation, they were barred from entering Angola. The president of UNITA had previously communicated a request for entry visas for key leaders, including Sifuna and Wine. The letter affirmed UNITA’s responsibility for the visiting leaders during their stay in Angola.
Tundu Lissu condemned the actions of the Angolan immigration authorities, highlighting the significance of historical ties between Tanzania and Angola. He indicated that such treatment was unacceptable and contradicted the spirit of brotherhood between African nations. The ACT-Wazalendo party has also strongly criticized this incident, referring to it as a breach of diplomatic protocol, and is demanding explanations and immediate return of the confiscated passports.
The ACT-Wazalendo party is urging the Tanzanian government to summon the Angolan ambassador and insist on accountability for the actions taken against Tanzanian leaders. They are advocating for the immediate return of the confiscated passports, allowing the Tanzanian delegation to engage in their scheduled meetings without further obstruction.
The denial of entry to key political leaders from Tanzania and other African nations into Angola has ignited significant criticism. The actions of Angolan authorities have raised concerns about diplomatic protocol violations and the historical ties between the nations. The collective response from affected leaders and political parties highlights the necessity for accountability and respect in intergovernmental relations. Calls for immediate clarification and the return of confiscated passports underscore the complexities of diplomatic interactions in Africa.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
