Sello Tsolo, a South African citizen, has been held hostage in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for the past nine (9) years. The UAE authorities refuse to allow him to leave the country until he repays a ZAR 2 million (USD 131 600) fraudulent debt owed to an international scammer, Amit Lamba.

Sello was arrested by the UAE authorities and imprisoned for 3 years, after which he is still not allowed to leave. He has been living in the South African Embassy in Abu Dhabi for the past 5 years since his release, together with two fellow South Africans (TJ Kambule and Jannie Van Der Walt) in similar situations. Jannie has since been rearrested for the same case. The three of them are responsible for all of their personal needs, including food, clothes and medical treatment, with no means of earning an income - either to repay the debts owed or to sustain themselves.

Sello entered the UAE in his early 50s, on a two week visit. He is still there 9 years later - now an elderly man in his 60s. He leaves behind a family that is struggling to survive in South Africa. In 2019, Sello’s mother passed away, and still the SA Government refused to intervene in order to allow him to travel to South Africa and mourn her loss. 

According to a report from Human Rights Watch, the UAE is notorious for their abusive debt laws which are in violation of a number of international human rights laws.

Help me bring my friend home by signing this petition and reuniting Sello with his family after 9 years of hell. Every signature and share brings us one step closer to ending this nightmare. #BringSelloHome once and for all!