Zanzibar’s Vice President Othman Sharif, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and others were denied entry into Angola, having their passports seized upon arrival. They were part of a larger delegation invited for a conference. Condemnations from leaders and their party, ACT-Wazalendo, have emerged, demanding urgent clarifications from Angolan officials regarding the incident.
Zanzibar’s Vice President, Othman Masoud Sharif, along with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, and opposition leaders Bobi Wine and Tundu Lissu have been denied entry into Angola. They are part of a larger delegation of over 40 political leaders traveling for a two-day meeting at the invitation of the President of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA). Upon arrival at Luanda Airport, the leaders had their passports confiscated and are presently being held without a clear explanation from the Angolan authorities.
The Angolan government has ordered that these leaders be returned to their respective countries, specifically Tanzania and Kenya, via connecting flights through Ethiopia and Johannesburg. The forum was expected to include high-profile participants such as former Presidents Ian Khama of Botswana and Andrés Pastrana Arango of Colombia, alongside other prominent political figures.
Despite the official invite from Adalberto Costa, the President of UNITA, Senator Sifuna expressed frustration over their denial of entry. Sifuna shared on social media, “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola, but the government has denied us entry!”
Sifuna further disclosed an official letter from Costa, requesting the Angolan immigration authorities grant entry to multiple leaders, including those from Kenya and Uganda, as well as international delegates from countries like Ukraine and Ethiopia.
In response to the incident, Tundu Lissu condemned the Angolan authorities, highlighting the high-profile nature of those detained and underscoring the longstanding relationship between Tanzania and Angola as fellow members of SADC. Lissu stressed that the treatment faced by these leaders is unacceptable and should be publicly condemned.
The ACT-Wazalendo party, which represents some of the detained leaders, criticized the actions of the Angolan immigration, calling them degrading and a breach of diplomatic protocol. They have demanded immediate clarification from Angolan authorities and called upon Tanzania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek an explanation from the Angolan ambassador regarding this incident. They have also urged the return of seized passports and the immediate release of the delegation to proceed with their engagements in Angola.
The refusal of entry and subsequent detention of high-profile political leaders in Angola has sparked outrage and condemnation. Led by Zanzibar’s Vice President, this delegation highlights the importance of diplomatic protocols and the mutual respect required among African nations. Calls for accountability from the Angolan government and the prompt return of confiscated passports reflect the urgency of the situation and the need for respect between nations. The actions taken will likely influence diplomatic relations going forward.
Original Source: eastleighvoice.co.ke
