By AFRICA’S only Nobel Laureate in Literature, Professor Wole Soyinka, has reportedly been designated persona non grata and labelled a “threat to national security” by the United States Department of State.
According to classified documents tagged “Confidential” and sighted by Naija Standard Newspaper, the U.S. authorities cited Soyinka’s consistent criticism of former and current U.S. President Donald Trump during media appearances as a key factor behind the decision.
The documents allegedly claim that Soyinka’s remarks “diminished the stature of the sitting president and made mockery of his programmes.”
The report further suggests that under the approval of Secretary of State, Senator Marco Rubio, directives were issued through secure diplomatic channels to the U.S. Embassy in Abuja and the Consulate in Lagos, ordering the revocation of Soyinka’s visa and imposing a permanent entry ban.
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A senior U.S. State Department aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying:
“Professor Soyinka’s repeated criticism of President Trump, often through international interviews, drew attention from law enforcement and diplomatic agencies. His remarks were viewed as attempts to ridicule the president before global audiences. The government did not take that lightly.”
The report adds that a letter from the Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) Section of the U.S. Consulate in Lagos formally notified Soyinka of the decision in a correspondence dated October 23, 2025. The letter reportedly stated that his visa “has been revoked pursuant to the authority contained in U.S. Department of State regulations.”
Soyinka Reacts: “I Am Still in the Dark”
Confirming the revocation at a press briefing held at Kongi’s Harvest Gallery, Freedom Park, Lagos, the 90-year-old writer expressed shock over the development.
“I have no visa; I am banned, obviously, from the United States,” Soyinka told journalists.
“I’m still looking into my past history. I don’t have any criminal record or even a misdemeanor to qualify for this revocation. I have always maintained a courteous relationship with U.S. diplomats.”
Soyinka explained that he decided to publicly address the matter to avoid inconveniencing organisers of events expecting his attendance in the U.S.
“It is necessary to make this known so that those expecting me for engagements in America do not waste their time,” he said.
Background: A Long History of Criticism
The development follows Soyinka’s longstanding criticism of Donald Trump’s leadership.
In 2016, he famously vowed to destroy his U.S. green card if Trump won the presidential election—a promise he fulfilled upon Trump’s inauguration in 2017, coining the symbolic phrase “WOLEXIT.”
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Earlier in September 2025, PM News reported that Soyinka declined an invitation from the U.S. Consulate in Nigeria to attend a visa re-interview, which he initially dismissed as a potential scam. He later confirmed its authenticity but stated that he found the process “strange and unnecessary.”
Soyinka’s revoked visa was classified as a B1/B2 non-immigrant visa—intended for business and tourism purposes.
In past interviews, the Nobel laureate has described his dismay at what he called “the sad turn of events” in the United States under Trump’s leadership. In a 2016 conversation with The Interview, he said Trump’s rise “spelt trouble for humanity,” adding that he would “watch his WOLEXIT come January 20, 2017.”
No Official Confirmation
As of the time of filing this report, the U.S. Department of State has not issued an official statement confirming or denying the alleged designation of Professor Soyinka as persona non grata.
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