Eliseu Sambú, coordinator of the communication department at AEGBL, stated that students are being prevented from entering due to the lack of a document, a “statement of responsibility,” which serves as proof that someone will be receiving the student and will be responsible for them in Portugal, covering tuition, accommodation, and meals.
“Essentially, it is the proof of means of subsistence,” he added.
Eliseu Sambú mentioned that relatives of some students are already attempting to resolve the situation, with AEGBL expecting that on Monday, the association’s lawyer will “take charge of the case towards its resolution.”
This representative of the student association criticized the Embassy of Guinea-Bissau in Lisbon, which “has failed the students.”
“We have sent emails to the Embassy, but the response has been silence. AEGBL is taking on the responsibility [to resolve the case], which belongs to the Embassy,” he added, finding it odd that all detained students have their respective visas, yet were not required to present the statement of responsibility when applying for permission to travel and enter Portugal.
Eliseu Sambú was adamant: “statements of responsibility were not requested for visa issuance.”
Efforts to contact the Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau in Portugal, Artur Silva, were unsuccessful. The same was true for ANA – Aeroportos de Portugal.
The Lisbon Metropolitan Command (Cometlis) of the PSP reported having no information about the case.
