Barring opposition leaders in Angola: A troubling trend for Africa’s democracy

Why were prominent opposition figures from Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and other African nations denied entry to Angola? And how does this reflect the state of democracy across Africa?

Political analysts point to these developments as indicative of the challenges facing the African democratisation process, highlighting that the continent still has a long way to go.

The incident occurred at Luanda International Airport, where Tanzania’s opposition ACT-Wazalendo delegation, led by Dorothy Semu, alongside Chadema’s Tundu Lissu and Zanzibar’s First Vice President Othman Masoud Othman, were barred from entering Angola.

Other figures, including Mozambican politician Venâncio Mondlane and former Botswana President Ian Khama, also faced similar restrictions.

A letter addressed to Angola’s Director of Migration and Foreign Services outlined the individuals barred from entry, including Ugandans Sharif Ssenyonjo Najja and Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine).

Others are Kenyans Cirino Hiteng Ofuho and Edwin Watenya Sifuna, Ukrainians Oleksandr Omelchuk and Andriy Marasin, and Ethiopian Merera Gudina Jefi. Tanzanian officials were not included in the list.

Opposition leaders were en route to Benguela to attend the Platform for African Democracy (PAD) conference, organised by Angola’s opposition party, the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita).

The event was expected to bring together opposition voices from across the continent, aiming to strengthen democratic movements.

However, the Angolan government’s abrupt intervention raised questions about the commitment of African states to uphold democratic values.

The refusal of entry is part of a growing pattern of repression against opposition parties across Africa.

Political experts argue that governments are increasingly using state apparatus to suppress dissenting voices, limit political participation, and maintain their grip on power.

A Kenyan political analyst, Dr Moses Owino, believes the incident is part of a broader trend, where ruling parties fear the rising influence of opposition movements.

“Governments are becoming increasingly paranoid about opposition figures organising across borders. This was not just about Angola; it was a message to opposition groups across Africa,” he said in a WhatsApp group, seen by The Citizen.

The situation in Angola mirrors that in Uganda, where President Yoweri Museveni has cracked down on opposition leaders like Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine.

Bobi Wine, who was also on the list of those barred from Angola, has faced repeated arrests and violent suppression by security forces.

His political rallies have been disrupted, and his movements restricted, raising concerns about the credibility of Uganda’s democracy.

A similar trend is facing the veteran Ugandan opposition politician, Dr Kizza Besigye who has been charged with treason in a civilian court after his controversial case was transferred from a military tribunal.

In Zimbabwe, opposition leader Nelson Chamisa has faced police brutality, voter suppression, and media censorship.

The ruling ZANU-PF party, in power for over four decades, has been accused of using security agencies to maintain its dominance.

Recently, the world witnessed supporters of the opposition party in Mozambique, led by Venâncio Mondlane, mostly comprised of hundreds of thousands of young people, taking to the streets to protest.

They were met with gunfire from security forces. The protests were sparked by the opposition’s challenge to the election results, with Mondlane and his allied party, Podemos (Optimist Party for the Development of Mozambique), who have significant support among the country’s youth, alleging that the results were rigged.

Tanzania, once regarded as a beacon of democracy in East Africa, has also faced challenges.

While President Samia Suluhu Hassan has made efforts to reopen democratic space, opposition leaders still claim an unfair playing field under the independent electoral body.

Mr Lissu’s frequent confrontations with the government highlight the delicate state of political freedom in Tanzania.

Was there a real threat?

Analysts argue that the decision to bar opposition leaders was less about national security and more about political fears.

A political analyst, Mr Thomas Kambale, believes Angola’s ruling party was wary of hosting a meeting that could empower Unita, its main political rival.

“Unita’s vote share increased significantly in the last elections, and the government is alarmed by their growing influence. This incident highlights how fragile democracy remains in many African states,” he says.

A PhD student in political science at the University of Dar es Salaam, Mr John Mapunda, argued that allowing such a high-profile opposition meeting could have emboldened anti-government sentiments across Africa.

“Hosting a gathering of opposition leaders from multiple countries would have been seen as a direct challenge to existing regimes,” he said, adding that the Angolan government likely saw this as a risk they weren’t willing to take.

With opposition movements facing clampdowns in various African states, is there any country that could host such a meeting without state interference?

Political experts find it hard to provide a definitive answer. Countries like South Africa and Ghana, which have relatively strong democratic institutions, might be possible hosts, but even they have faced internal struggles with opposition suppression.

Kenyan lawyer and political commentator, Mr Paul Okoth observed on LinkedIn that even in democratic states, governments may hesitate to host opposition gatherings.

“No ruling party wants to be seen as facilitating opposition mobilisation. It’s a complex political balancing act,” he writes.

Mr Okoth adds that for Africa to achieve true democratic progress, governments must embrace political competition rather than suppress it.

“The best way to counter opposition is not through suppression but by strengthening democratic institutions, allowing free speech, and letting the people decide,” he says.

What next for Africa’s democratic future?

The Angola incident serves as a reminder that Africa still has a long way to go in embracing democracy.

Most of the continent’s ruling parties continue to view opposition political parties as threats rather than vital components of governance.

This approach has led to growing authoritarian tendencies, where elections are often mere formalities rather than genuine exercises of the people’s will.

For democracy to thrive in Africa, governments must respect opposition voices and allow political pluralism.

The suppression of opposition leaders will only deepen political tensions and hinder meaningful development.

Whether Africa will eventually open its doors to genuine political discourse remains an open question—one that will shape the future of governance across the continent.