African countries accused of targeting visitors from China
Publish date: 10 February 2020
Issue Number: 859
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Health
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) says it has received reports that some African countries are refusing entry to their own citizens returning from China in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. A report on the News24 site notes that the organisation's director Dr John Nkengasong said this went against the instructions of the WHO that there should be no restrictions of movement, goods and air travel. 'What we see are countries which are making their individual decisions which we cannot control. For Africans who are returning, we have an obligation to receive our citizens and keep them for a while. Monitor them, screen them and then release them into the communities.' He refused to name the countries in question. Africa CDC has been funded with $5m by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to respond to the outbreak.