Nobel Prize-Winning Author's US Visa Revoked Amid Controversy

Nobel Prize-winning author Wole Soyinka, 91, had his non-resident visa to enter the United States rejected, citing a standard process that allows the US government to revoke visas at any time. This decision comes after Soyinka publicly criticized US President Donald Trump, comparing him to Uganda's former dictator Idi Amin. Despite being told to reapply, Soyinka joked that he will not pursue another visa, stating that he has no interest in going back to the United States and emphasizing the principle of human dignity.

Key Takeaways:

• Soyinka's non-resident visa was revoked, a process that allows the US government to revoke visas at any time, according to the US State Department.
• Soyinka believes his criticism of Trump, specifically referring to him as a "white version of Idi Amin," may have contributed to the revocation of his visa.
• Soyinka has previously held a green card, which he jokingly referred to as having "had an accident" and "fell between a pair of scissors" eight years ago.
• In 2017, Soyinka destroyed his green card in protest over Trump's first inauguration.
• The US Consulate in Nigeria deemed visa records confidential and would not discuss the specifics of Soyinka's case.

Statistics:

• Soyinka is 91 years old and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986.
• Uganda's former dictator Idi Amin ruled from 1971 until 1979.
• Trump's first inauguration took place in 2017.
• The US State Department cited that visas are a privilege, not a right, and may be revoked at any time.

Sources:

• The Associated Press, 2025
• United States State Department (statement via US Consulate in Nigeria)
• Nigeria's commercial hub, Lagos
• CJR's “Fixing the Copyright Mess” copyright notice (used due to AP's editorial use requirements)