Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been denied entry into Angola despite having received an official invitation from the country’s main opposition party.
In a statement on March 13, the outspoken senator claimed that Angolan authorities barred his entry upon arrival, despite assurances from the opposition’s leadership that they were welcome.
Ugandan opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, was also denied entry into the Central African nation.
“UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola. The government has denied us entry!” Sifuna said on X, formerly Twitter. The senator attached an official communication from UNITA to confirm their invitation.
In a document shared by Sifuna, the Office of the President of UNITA formally requested border visas for the Nairobi senator and Bobi Wine, stating that they were expected to arrive at Fevereiro International Airport in Luanda on Thursday.
The document also affirmed that UNITA would be fully responsible for the two leaders’ stay in Angola.
At the time of publishing this article, the Angolan authorities had not provided an immediate explanation as to why the leaders could not access the country.