German officials stopped Dr. Stella Nyanzi from returning home to Munich on May 24. The Ugandan activist and academic could not board her flight at Nairobi airport because a German Embassy worker named Constantine blocked her. Nyanzi has lived as a refugee under protection since 2022 through the PEN Germany Writers program. Constantine refused to accept her legal refugee papers from the German migration offices. The official claimed she had no decision on her refugee request despite her documents proving otherwise.
Nyanzi found herself stuck at the airport without her flight or accommodation. Her three children waited for her return to Munich, where they live together. She had to find new places to stay during the weekend before meeting Constantine again at the German Embassy. The activist expressed anger about having to beg for permission to return to her family home. Her refugee status should have guaranteed her right to travel back to Germany.
The incident happened after Nyanzi disagreed with PEN Germany about social media posts. The organization asked her to remove comments about another Ugandan exile named Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. Nyanzi refused and accused PEN Germany of trying to silence her voice. German Embassy officials have not explained their actions or commented on the situation. Refugee rights groups worry that Germany violated international protection laws.
Nyanzi found herself stuck at the airport without her flight or accommodation. Her three children waited for her return to Munich, where they live together. She had to find new places to stay during the weekend before meeting Constantine again at the German Embassy. The activist expressed anger about having to beg for permission to return to her family home. Her refugee status should have guaranteed her right to travel back to Germany.
The incident happened after Nyanzi disagreed with PEN Germany about social media posts. The organization asked her to remove comments about another Ugandan exile named Kakwenza Rukirabashaija. Nyanzi refused and accused PEN Germany of trying to silence her voice. German Embassy officials have not explained their actions or commented on the situation. Refugee rights groups worry that Germany violated international protection laws.
