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.
According to the 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.
Despite being barred from entry, Angolan authorities did not provide an immediate explanation as to why the leaders could not access the country, raising diplomatic and political questions, particularly as both Sifuna and Bobi Wine are opposition figures in their respective countries.
The incident raises further diplomatic and political concerns, given that both Sifuna and Bobi Wine are vocal opposition figures. It remains unclear whether they will pursue further diplomatic engagements to gain access to Angola.
Angola's ruling People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the opposition UNITA have a history of conflict, though tensions have eased in recent years. The most recent general elections in Angola resulted in victory for the MPLA, who only narrowly edged out UNITA, which now functions as the country's legitimate opposition party.
Locally, Sifuna, who is the Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, has been embroiled in his own political controversies, with sections of ODM affiliates accusing him of disloyalty.
More recently, Nairobi County ODM Chairman George Aladwa accused the Senator of aligning with ousted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as he hinted that Sifuna's days at the opposition party could be numbered.
However, Sifuna's close ties with party leader Raila Odinga were evident on March 7 when he co-presented Raila's Memorandum of Understanding with President William Ruto.
