Omicron: Ban on African countries unfair, discriminatory – Adesina

 

President of African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, on Monday said that the travel ban placed on some African countries over Omicron, the new COVID-19 variant, is “very unfair, non-scientific and discriminatory”.

 

Recall that due to the newly detected coronavirus variant in South Africa, many developed countries have been shutting their doors against African countries.

 

Writing on his verified twitter handle, Adesina urged the western countries to lift the travel ban on the African countries.

 

He queried why the travel ban was not placed on non-African countries where Omicron had also been found.

 

“Why single out African countries? Singling out African countries is very unfair, nonscientific and discriminatory.

 

“Global vaccines and travel apartheid against Africa are endangering lives, hurting economies, lives, jobs and livelihoods from a pandemic Africa did not cause.

 

“End the apartheid. Respect Africa,” Adesina said.