Angola Denies Entry to Prominent African Opposition Leaders at Democracy Summit

Angola denied entry to several senior African opposition leaders, including Tundu Lissu, Venancio Mondlane, and Ian Khama, invited by Unita to a democracy summit. The Angolan government cited visa irregularities, but critics argue this reflects a broader pattern of suppressing dissent and undermining democracy. The incident has raised questions about Angola’s credibility as an African mediator.

Angola has faced criticism for denying entry to notable African opposition leaders, who were invited to a summit on democracy by the country’s principal opposition party, Unita. Among those denied access were Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, Mozambique’s Venancio Mondlane, and Botswana’s former President Ian Khama. Lissu expressed his dissatisfaction, stating, “The action of the Angolan government to prevent us from entering Angola is inexplicable and unacceptable.”
According to a representative from the Migration and Aliens Service (SME), the denial of entry was attributed to “irregularities in the visa procedure,” which affected Mondlane and 13 other members of his delegation. In total, around 20 leaders from various political factions across Africa were barred from entering. Lissu criticized the Angolan regime, asserting that it resembles a dictatorship while masquerading as a democracy.
Kenyan senator Edwin Sifuna, a member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, also reported being denied entry, alongside former Colombian President Andres Pastrana and Zanzibar’s first Vice-President Othman Masoud Othman. Tomas Viera Mario, a political analyst from Mozambique, described the decision as “strange,” given that President Joao Lourenco has positioned himself as a mediator on the African continent.
As the current chair of the African Union (AU), Lourenco is due to host peace talks regarding the conflict in DR Congo, making this incident particularly controversial. Mario remarked that the barring of these prominent figures demonstrates “total contempt” and reflects poorly on the AU’s pan-African ideals. Unita lawmaker Nelito da Costa Ekwiki explicitly condemned the expulsion, emphasizing the Angolan government’s ongoing history of suppressing dissent to sustain its power.

The recent denial of entry to high-profile African opposition leaders by the Angolan government has sparked significant criticism and concerns about democratic practices in Angola. This incident not only highlights potential issues with visa procedures but also raises questions about the country’s commitment to the pan-African spirit and its role in regional mediation efforts. The expulsion reflects the broader struggle against authoritarianism and the suppression of dissent in Angola.

Original Source: www.bbc.com