The African Union has summoned top Chinese officials over the alleged maltreatment of Africans in Chinese cities especially Guangzhou.
There have been reports of Chinese landlords and hotel managers ejecting Africans over fears that they are importing fresh cases of the coronavirus in the Asian country.
In viral videos some of the affected Africans migrant’s living in the Guangdong and Fujian Province have accused the Chinese government of failing to protect them.
They have also expressed fear that they may contract the virus since they have been forced out of their homes.
“Black people are currently not allowed to access public places including malls, restaurants and hospitals. We have been evicted by our landlords and chased out of hotels because of Coronavirus.” they told Africa Feeds.
In an open letter from the All African Association of Guangzhou, community leaders asked for an end to “the inhuman treatment, hatred, and outright discrimination of Africans that is currently going on in Guangzhou.
About 10 African community leaders in Guangzhou are technically under house arrest using the term quarantine.
These actions are difficult to comprehend when you consider the fact that these are people whose official test results came back negative just one or two days ago.”
African governments condemn treatment
There have been strong condemnation from several African countries to the alleged maltreatment of their nationals in China.
The Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat said “My Office invited the Chinese Ambassador to the AU, Mr Liu Yuxi, to express our extreme concern at allegations of maltreatment of Africans in Guangzhou and called for immediate remedial measures in line with our excellent relations. The African Grp in Beijing is also engaging with the government.”
My Office invited the Chinese Amb to the AU,Mr Liu Yuxi, to express our extreme concern at allegations of maltreatment of Africans in #Guangzhou+called for immediate remedial measures in line with our excellent relations.The African Grp in #Beijing is also engaging with the govt pic.twitter.com/NEBStdOCeK
— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) April 11, 2020
At various country levels several African government including Ghana, Nigeria and Kenya have all summoned Chinese Ambassadors there over the reported maltreatment.
In a statement Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey condemned what she called racial discrimination and ill treatment of Africans living in China.
“I regret and highly condemn this act. I have summoned the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana Shi Ting Wang to register my disappointment and calk for his government to immediately address the situation and bring its officials to order,” she said.
The speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives tweeted a video of himself demanding action from the Chinese Ambassador.
African leaders upset
“It’s almost undiplomatic the way I’m talking, but it’s because I’m upset about what’s going on,” Femi Gbajabiamila said.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama has also summoned the ambassador to express “extreme concern” and call for an immediate government response.
Kenya’s foreign ministry in a statement condemned the “unfair responses against foreigners, particularly of African origin,” from some locals in Guangzhou, especially landlords.
The statement said the Chinese embassy in Nairobi has told Kenya’s foreign ministry that authorities in Guangzhou “have been tasked to take immediate action to safeguard the legitimate rights of the Africans concerned.”
The government of Sierra Leone has also condemned the maltreatment of Africans residing in China.
Guangzhou is home to one of China’s largest African communities and has become a hub for African traders buying and selling goods to the continent.
Source: Africafeeds.com
