Among those stopped were Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, Tanzanian opposition leader Tundu Lissu, and Mozambique’s Venâncio  Mondlane. They were in the country at the invitation of Angola’s main opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), for the party’s 59th anniversary celebrations.

The event, which aimed to address democratic governance, took a dramatic turn when the Angolan authorities denied the leaders entry, despite assurances from UNITA.  

According to a correspondent in Mozambique, Manuel Luamba, the reason for the detentions was related to visa complications, even though regional agreements should have exempted the leaders from such requirements.

“There are existing agreements between Angola and neighbouring countries that allow for visa-free travel,” Luamba said. “So, the detention of these figures seems to go against these understandings. The leaders were invited to participate in a conference on democracy, making their detention even more confusing.”

The leaders were scheduled to participate in a conference in Benguela, a city in the Bengo province, to discuss issues related to democratic practices and governance. However, the move to block their entry has led to a wave of criticism from citizens, with many expressing their discontent on social media.

One comment on Facebook read, “How can they deny entry to leaders coming to discuss democracy? It’s an embarrassment and goes against the very principles Angola claims to uphold.”

Political analysts have speculated that the incident could be linked to tensions between the ruling government and UNITA, which has been vocal in its opposition.

--ChannelAfrica--