Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Othman and a Tanzanian delegation were denied entry into Angola at Luanda Airport on Thursday. Other notable figures, including Venâncio Mondlane and Ian Khama, were similarly affected. They were detained without official explanation as they arrived to attend a democracy-focused conference. Prominent Tanzanian politician Zitto Kabwe criticized Angola’s actions, prompting the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to seek a response.
On Thursday, a diplomatic incident transpired at Luanda Airport as Zanzibar’s First Vice President, Othman Masoud Othman, along with a Tanzanian delegation, was barred from entering Angola. This unexpected event also affected prominent personalities such as Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane and former President of Botswana Ian Khama, who were similarly denied entry without any formal justification provided.
The delegation, led by Dorothy Semu, head of the ACT-Wazalendo party, intended to participate in a conference centered on democracy and governance, co-organized by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. Upon their arrival, Angolan authorities detained the group, confiscating their passports, including those of Othman and his accompanying security detail.
Such actions have sparked concerns regarding the diplomatic relations between Tanzania and Angola, prompting immediate reactions on social media. Zitto Kabwe, a notable Tanzanian parliamentarian, criticized the actions on Twitter, labeling them as a “disrespect shown by Angola to Tanzania,” and urged the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs to address this diplomatic challenge.
According to a reliable source from Angola, Tanzanian officials were not the only ones experiencing difficulties at the airport. An official correspondence from UNITA’s President’s Office confirmed that opposition leaders from several countries, including Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, had also been invited to the event but faced similar entry refusals.
The communication, dated March 12, 2025, requested border visas for notable figures such as Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) from Uganda and Cirino Hiteng Ofuho from Kenya among others. These individuals were likewise denied entry, while the Tanzanian delegation was not part of this list. The conference was scheduled to take place on March 13, 2025, at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport.
As of now, the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not provided an official statement regarding the incident but is reportedly seeking clarification from Angola regarding the denial of entry. To date, Angolan officials have yet to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the detainment of these individuals, leaving many questions unanswered.
This unfolding situation reflects heightened tensions between Tanzania and Angola, especially as respected political figures face inexplicable detentions. The lack of official clarification from Angolan authorities raises significant concerns about the diplomatic protocols and the treatment of invited foreign delegates. The Tanzanian government’s next steps remain to be observed as they seek explanations for this incident, which poses potential implications for bilateral relations.
Original Source: www.ghanaweb.com
