African Leaders Denied Entry Into Angola: A Call for Accountability

Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Sharif and other leaders have been denied entry into Angola and detained at Luanda Airport with their passports confiscated. This action occurred during a planned meeting with UNITA, and leaders demand an explanation from the Angolan authorities. The incident has drawn condemnation from various political figures and parties, including ACT-Wazalendo, which calls for accountability and the immediate return of passports.

Several prominent leaders have been denied entry into Angola, including Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Sharif, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and opposition politicians Bobi Wine and Tundu Lissu. These leaders are currently being held at Luanda Airport, where their passports have been confiscated. They were part of a delegation of over 40 leaders from various African political parties attending a two-day meeting hosted by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).

The Angolan government has issued an order for their return to their respective countries—Tanzania for Sharif, and Kenya for Sifuna—via Ethiopia and Johannesburg, without providing any explanation for this action. The leaders had arrived in Luanda for a meeting attended by former Presidents and other notable political figures from across the continent, including South Africa’s Minister of Agriculture.

Edwin Sifuna publicly expressed the group’s dismay on social media, revealing that they received an official invitation from UNITA’s President, Adalberto Costa. In his statement, Sifuna stated, “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola, but the government has denied us entry!” . Alongside this, he shared a formal communication from Costa requesting entry for the delegation.

Tundu Lissu condemned the Angolan immigration authorities’ actions, emphasizing the significance of African solidarity. He noted that the group includes high-ranking officials and leaders from multiple African nations and condemned the treatment as unacceptable. Lissu highlighted the historical ties between Angola and Tanzania, stating that Tanzanian nationals typically require no visa to enter Angola, thus criticizing the implications of the incident.

The ACT-Wazalendo party, which includes Othman Sharif, denounced the treatment of the detained leaders. They demand an explanation from the Angolan authorities for the detention and confiscation of passports. Mwanaisha Mndeme, the party’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs, stated that the incident is a violation of diplomatic protocols, calling for an immediate response from the Angolan government.

Additionally, ACT-Wazalendo has urged Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to summon the Angolan Ambassador for clarification and to demand the immediate return of the confiscated passports, allowing the delegation to continue their scheduled activities in Angola without further issues.

This incident has drawn significant attention and calls for accountability regarding the treatment of African leaders abroad, reflecting concerns about diplomatic relations within the region.

The denial of entry to prominent African leaders into Angola has raised serious concerns regarding diplomatic relations and treatment of officials from neighboring countries. The leaders, including Othman Masoud Sharif and Edwin Sifuna, faced confiscation of their passports and were ordered back to their nations without clear justification. The ACT-Wazalendo party has condemned this incident as degrading and a violation of diplomatic norms, demanding accountability from the Angolan government. Further actions may be needed to restore relations and ensure the swift return of confiscated documents.

Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke