A group of African political leaders, including Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Othman, Chadema chairman Tundu Lissu, ACT Wazalendo leader Dorothy Semu, Kenyan Senator Edwin Sifuna, and Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine, have been denied entry into Angola despite having official invitations.
The leaders had traveled to Luanda for the Platform for African Democrats (PAD) Dialogue, a conference focused on democracy and governance. The event was meant to bring together African political figures to discuss key issues affecting the continent. However, upon arrival at Quatro de Fevereiro International Airport, they were stopped by immigration officials and held at the airport.
According to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, they had received a formal invitation from Angola’s main opposition party, UNITA, which had also requested border visas for some of them. Despite this, they were barred from entry with no official explanation from Angolan authorities.
Tanzania’s main opposition party Chadema Chairman Tundu Lissu, who was also affected, strongly condemned the move, calling it “shabby treatment of the nationals of brotherly African nations.” He highlighted Tanzania’s long-standing support for Angola’s liberation struggle and questioned why Tanzanians, who do not require a visa under SADC agreements, were subjected to such treatment.
Former ACT Wazalendo leader Zitto Kabwe also criticized the move, calling it a sign of disrespect towards Tanzania and questioning how the government would respond to the diplomatic row. The Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not yet issued an official statement.
Other leaders affected include former Botswana President Ian Khama, Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane, and opposition figures from Ethiopia, Sudan, Namibia, and Ukraine.
The incident raises diplomatic and political concerns, particularly as many of those denied entry are opposition leaders in their respective countries. Angolan authorities have yet to provide a clear reason for barring the leaders from entering the country.
