Zanzibar’s Vice President Othman Masoud Sharif and other leaders were denied entry into Angola while attending a meeting organized by UNITA. Their passports were confiscated at Luanda Airport, prompting condemnation from various political figures, including Edwin Sifuna and Tundu Lissu. Calls for an explanation from Angolan authorities have emerged following this diplomatic incident.
In a significant diplomatic incident, leaders including Zanzibar’s Vice President Othman Masoud Sharif, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Ugandan opposition figures Bobi Wine and Tundu Lissu were denied entry into Angola. They had arrived in Luanda for a scheduled two-day meeting, organized by the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Currently, the leaders are reportedly being held at Luanda Airport, where their passports have been confiscated by Angolan authorities. The government has subsequently ordered their return without providing an explicit explanation. The delegation, consisting of over 40 political leaders from various African nations, was set to participate in discussions aimed at fostering regional cooperation.
Despite holding an official invitation from UNITA’s President Adalberto Costa, the leaders were barred from entering Angola. Sifuna expressed his displeasure via social media, stating, “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola, but the government has denied us entry!” He further shared details of an official communication requesting Border Visas for the delegation members, emphasizing the invitation’s legitimacy.
Tundu Lissu condemned the actions of Angolan immigration authorities, highlighting the presence of high-ranking political figures among those detained. He stated, “This shabby treatment of the nationals of brotherly African nations by the Angolan immigration authorities is totally unacceptable.”
The ACT-Wazalendo party, which includes Sharif, has categorically condemned the treatment of Tanzanian leaders and called for urgent clarification from Angolan officials. The party’s Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Mwanaisha Mndeme, described the incident as a violation of diplomatic protocols and demanded the immediate return of confiscated passports, stressing the need for Angola to be held accountable for its actions and to allow the Tanzanian delegation to proceed.
This incident raises significant concerns regarding diplomatic practices and the treatment of leaders from within the African community. The leaders’ detention and the cancellation of their participation in the forum are viewed as violations of diplomatic norms. The diplomatic responses from both the affected leaders and political parties indicate the potential for escalating tensions between the nations involved. Immediate restoration of normalcy in diplomatic relations hinges on Angola’s response to these allegations and calls for accountability.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
