Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Ugandan opposition leader Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, have been denied entry into Angola despite receiving an official invitation from the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).
Sifuna, in a statement on Thursday, March 13, confirmed that Angolan authorities blocked their entry even after UNITA President Adalberto Costa had extended a formal invitation.
“UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola. The Government has denied us entry!” Sifuna stated.
The lawmaker, who also serves as the Secretary General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), shared an official letter from UNITA President Costa, which had been addressed to the Director of Migration and Foreign Services in Angola.
In the letter shared by Sifuna, Costa informed Angolan immigration authorities of the expected arrival of Sifuna, Bobi Wine, and five others.
Among those scheduled to enter Angola were Sharif Ssenyonjo of Uganda, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho of Kenya, Oleksandr Omelchuk and Andriy Marasin from Ukraine, and Merera Gudina from Ethiopia.
“They will enter the country tomorrow, March 13, 2025, at 4 de Fevereiro International Airport. The Office of the President of UNITA declares that it is responsible for their stay in Angola,” read the letter.
It remains unclear why Angolan authorities denied the delegation entry despite the assurance from UNITA. However, this move raises concerns over political relations between opposition figures and the Angolan government.
Bobi Wine, a vocal critic of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, has faced numerous travel restrictions in the past. Similarly, Sifuna has been outspoken on governance issues in Kenya and across the region.
As of the time of publishing, neither the Angolan government nor UNITA had issued an official response regarding the incident. The development is likely to spark diplomatic discussions on the treatment of opposition leaders in African states.
