Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was recently denied entry to Angola despite being invited officially by the country’s leading opposition party, UNITA. The senator, known for his outspoken nature, stated that Angolan officials blocked him upon arrival, even though the opposition leadership had assured him that he was welcome.
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, also faced the same fate and was not allowed into the Central African country.
Sifuna took to X, formerly Twitter, to express his frustration. “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola. The government has denied us entry!” he wrote, attaching an official communication from UNITA confirming their invitation.
The document from the UNITA President’s Office showed a formal request for border permits for both Sifuna and Bobi Wine. According to the contract, UNITA had assumed full responsibility for the presence of the two opposition leaders in Angola.
Their arrival was scheduled for Thursday at Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda.Despite this formal arrangement, Angolan authorities denied them entry without offering an immediate explanation.
This move raises diplomatic and political concerns, as both Sifuna and Bobi Wine are well-known opposition figures in their respective countries.
The incident highlights broader questions about Angola’s political environment and its treatment of international opposition leaders. It is unclear if Sifuna and Bobi Wine will seek other diplomatic avenues to enter Angola or if this matter will escalate into a larger dispute.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the opposition UNITA have a long history of tension, dating back to Angola’s civil war. Although hostilities have reduced in recent years, political friction remains.
The most recent Angolan elections saw MPLA narrowly defeat UNITA, solidifying the latter’s position as the official opposition. The denial of entry to UNITA’s invited guests could be seen as an attempt by the MPLA government to suppress any external political influence.
In Kenya, Sifuna has been at the center of political battles within his own party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). Some ODM members have accused him of betrayal, with Nairobi County ODM Chairman George Aladwa recently claiming that Sifuna had aligned himself with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Aladwa suggested that Sifuna’s time in ODM might be limited, given these alleged associations. Sifuna’s strong ties with ODM leader Raila Odinga were highlighted on March 7 when he played a key role in presenting Raila’s Memorandum of Understanding with President William Ruto.
This has sparked further speculation about his political future, as his position between opposition and government allies becomes increasingly uncertain.
His blocked entry into Angola only adds to the complexity of his political trajectory and raises questions about the international treatment of opposition leaders in Africa.
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