Angola is facing widespread criticism after refusing entry to several prominent African opposition leaders invited to attend a conference hosted by the country’s main opposition party, Unita.
The leaders, including Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, Mozambique’s Venancio Mondlane, and Botswana’s former President Ian Khama, were denied entry despite having visas or being eligible for visa-on-arrival.
The Angolan government cited “irregularities in the visa procedure” as the reason for the denial, but the affected leaders have condemned the move as “inexplicable and unacceptable.” Lissu described the treatment as “shabby” and accused the Angolan government of ruling with a “dictatorship” while pretending to be democratic.
At least 20 leaders and representatives from various political parties across Africa were denied entry, including delegates from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Sudan.
The Platform for African Democrats (Pad) has called for accountability from the Angolan government, suggesting that the ruling party may have orchestrated the denial of entry to undermine Unita’s anniversary celebrations.
The incident has raised diplomatic concerns, with the Zanzibar’s main opposition party, ACT Wazalendo, urging the Tanzanian government to summon the Angolan ambassador for an explanation.
A Mozambican political analyst described the move as “strange” given Angola’s President Joao Lourenco’s position as a mediator on the continent and chair of the African Union.
