(Updates with Chinese foreign ministry statement in paragraphs
8-10)
JOHANNESBURG, April 11 (Reuters) - African ambassadors in
China have written to the country's foreign minister over what
they call discrimination against Africans as the country seeks
to prevent a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Several African countries have separately also demanded that
China address their concerns that Africans, in particular in the
southern city of Guangzhou, are being mistreated and harassed.
Having brought under control the original outbreak centred
on the city of Wuhan, China is now concerned about imported
cases and is stepping up scrutiny of foreigners coming into the
country and tightening border controls. It has denied any
discrimination.
In recent days Africans in Guangzhou have reported being
ejected from their apartments by their landlords, being tested
for coronavirus several times without being given results and
being shunned and discriminated against in public. Such
complaints have been made in local media, and on social media.
The ambassadors' note said such "stigmatisation and
discrimination" created the false impression that the virus was
being spread by Africans.
"The Group of African Ambassadors in Beijing immediately
demands the cessation of forceful testing, quarantine and other
inhuman treatments meted out to Africans," it said.
The note was sent to State Councilor Wang Yi, the Chinese
government's top diplomat, copying the chair of the African
Union, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and all African
foreign ministers.
"The Guangdong authorities attach great importance to some
African countries' concerns and are working promptly to improve
their working method," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao
Lijian said in a statement published Sunday, referring to the
province in which Guangzhou is located.
"African friends can count on getting fair, just, cordial
and friendly reception in China," he said, adding the foreign
ministry will stay in close communication with Guangdong
authorities and address the "African side's reasonable concerns
and legitimate appeals".
Zhao's statement did not reference the ambassadors' note to
Wang and did not mention the allegations of discrimination
against Africans in the city.
Foreign affairs official Liu Baochun told a news conference
separately on Sunday that Guangzhou is enforcing anti-virus
measures on anyone who enters the city from across the national
border, regardless of nationality, race or gender. The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe on Saturday dismissed the
accusation that Africans were being deliberately targeted.
"It is harmful to sensationalize isolated incidents," it
said in a tweeted statement. "China treats all individuals in
the country, Chinese and foreign alike, as equals."
DISAPPOINTMENT
The ambassadors' note highlighted a number of reported
incidents, including that Africans were being ejected from
hotels in the middle of the night, the seizure of passports, and
threats of visa revocation, arrest or deportation.
On Saturday, Ghana's foreign minister of affairs Shirley
Ayorkor Botchwey said she had summoned the Chinese ambassador to
express her disappointment and demand action.
Kenya's foreign ministry has also "officially expressed
concern", adding the government is working with Chinese
authorities to address the matter.
On Friday, Nigerian legislator Akinola Alabi tweeted a video
of a meeting between the leader of Nigeria's lower house of
parliament, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Chinese Ambassador Zhou
Pingjian. In it, Gbajabiamila demanded an explanation from the
diplomat after showing Zhou a video of a Nigerian complaining
about mistreatment in China.
The ambassador said in response to the questions from the
house leader that he took the complaints "very seriously" and
promised to convey them to the authorities back home.