African diplomats denied entry to Angola

African diplomats denied entry to Angola The Angolan government attempted to obstruct the meeting by denying delegates visas, detaining them at the airport, or deporting them. Participants from countries such as Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa were affected. A group of African democrats has condemned the Angolan government's decision to deny entry to certain politicians. Despite these obstacles, prominent figures such as former Botswana President Ian Khama and former Lesotho Prime Minister Moeketsi Majoro attended the event. Twelve other people with visas from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, and South Sudan were detained at the airport and later deported. In a statement, representatives of the Platform for African Democrats, who attended the Benguela meeting in Angola, described the measure as an attempt to undermine democracy. The Benguela Meeting refers to the third annual gathering of the Platform for African Democrats (PAD), which took place on March 14, 2025, in Benguela, Angola. The theme was "The Future of Democracy in Africa" ​​and aimed to strengthen democratic practices in Africa. The PAD was founded in 2023 to support democratic parties in Africa through the exchange of experiences. Angola was chosen as the host city because it assumed the 2025 presidency of the African Union (AU), whose annual theme was "Justice for Africans through Reparations." The Platform for African Democrats (PAD) is a pan-African network of political and civil society leaders committed to democracy and free elections. Founded in 2023, the platform aims to strengthen democratic standards on the continent. Over 50 participants from Africa and international guests, including former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko, adopted a declaration, the so-called Cape Town Declaration of March 2024, calling for fair elections, the rule of law, and the protection of democratic institutions. For example, the PAD condemned the Angolan government for suppressing a democracy conference in Benguela in March 2025. The organization cooperates with the Brenthurst Foundation, a South African think tank, and uses international networking to support democratic movements. The Brenthurst Foundation is a Johannesburg-based think tank founded in 2004 by the Oppenheimer family to promote economic growth and development in Africa. Building on the Brenthurst Initiative (2003), it focuses on practical policy solutions through research, high-level dialogue, and international cooperation.