Senator Edwin Sifuna and six others were denied entry into Angola, despite being invited by UNITA’s leader. They arrived at the airport but faced action from authorities. The group’s visa requests were formally submitted, with UNITA assuring responsibility for their visit.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is among seven individuals denied entry into Angola. This group, which includes politicians and activists from Uganda, Kenya, Ukraine, and Ethiopia, was scheduled to arrive at Luanda’s 4 de Fevereiro International Airport on March 13. Their visit was facilitated by Adalberto Costa Júnior, President of UNITA, Angola’s main opposition party.
Upon arrival, the group was prevented from entering Angola by local authorities. Senator Sifuna expressed his frustration on X, stating, “UNITA President Adalberto Costa invited us to Angola. The government has denied us entry!” He accompanied this statement with a letter confirming that a formal request for border visas had been submitted by UNITA’s presidential office.
The letter, signed by Chief of Staff Lucas Tomás Nhanyula, assured authorities that UNITA would be responsible for the visitors’ stay. It indicated, “They will enter the country tomorrow, March 13, 2025, at the 4 de Fevereiro International Airport. The Office of the President of UNITA declares responsibility for their stay in Angola.”
Other members of the group included Sharif Ssenyonjo Najja and Robert Ssentamu Kyagulanyi from Uganda, Cirino Hiteng Ofuho from Kenya, and Oleksandr Omelchuk and Andriy Marasin from Ukraine, as well as Merera Gudina Jefi. UNITA, founded in 1966 by Jonas Savimbi, initially operated as a nationalist movement for independence from Portuguese colonial rule and later became a significant player in Angola’s civil war until 2002. Today, it stands as the country’s primary opposition force, advocating for democratic reform and development.
Senator Sifuna’s denial of entry into Angola, alongside fellow activists, reflects the ongoing complexities surrounding political movements in the region. Despite a formal invitation from UNITA’s leadership and assurances regarding their stay, the Angolan authorities blocked their entry, highlighting potential tensions between government restrictions and opposition engagements. UNITA’s historical role as a main opposition party underscores the political dynamics at play in Angola today.
Original Source: nairobileo.co.ke
