Unlike many times when the West/developed countries lead, the recent discovery of the Omicron variant of coronavirus is changing the phase of international politics in Africa and the world at large.
In 2021, when the coronavirus pandemic came into the limelight, the whole world responded to the call made by the western powers to shut down socioeconomic activities without resistance.
But, upon the discovery of the variant called Omicron in South Africa, many African leaders seem to have defied the measures taken by the west, even though they have not come out openly to challenge it, their body languages have shown.
One of it was the collective push back by the African leaders on the travel bans imposed by Western nations in an effort to stop the Omicron spread.
Many analysts have described the western world action as a punitive measure to punish the openness of South Africa in sharing news of the variant to save the world from the catastrophe.
According to reports, the variant was detected penultimate week in Botswana and South Africa, and since then it’s been found in countries across the globe from Scotland to Canada.
However, it’s still unclear where the latest known strain originated.
Resistance by the African leaders
Except for Rwanda that barred direct flight to and from nine countries in Southern Africa, no country from the African continent placed such restriction. Instead, four West Africa nations: Nigeria, Ghana, Côte D’Ivoire and Senegal hosted Rhamapusa and his delegates amidst the new variant scare.
To blowback the western pressure, South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, got the nod of African leaders to travel to their countries despite the tough measures swiftly reintroduced by the US and European nations
On his arrival to Nigeria, where he spent three days on state visit, Ramaphosa thanked the leaders of the four countries for expressing dissatisfaction with the travel ban imposed on South Africa and sister neighbouring countries.
He described the imposition of the ban by some western countries as arbitrary, discriminatory, unscientific and unproductive in the long run.
”This is a global pandemic and overcoming it requires that we collaborate and work together as a collective.
”The resulting damage to this travel ban to the economies of the countries affected will be considerable and long-lasting.
”So, I want to use this opportunity to tell the countries that have imposed this ban to reverse their decisions whether they are the northern more developed economies or in other parts of our continent or elsewhere,” he said.
Earlier, his host, President Muhammadu Buhari, described Ramaphosa’s visit to Nigeria as successful despite the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron.
”Despite the scare generated by the new COVID-19 variant, we have been able to hold successful meetings, while observing strict COVID-19 protocols, through fraternal cooperation and understanding.” said in a statement by Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity.
In Ghana, Rhamapusa said in a joint media briefing at the Jubilee House in Accra on Saturday, that, he and his Ghanaian counterpart Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo, have presented a united front in dealing with recovery from the devastation of the Covid-19 pandemic
“We appreciate this show of solidarity from Ghana in the light of travel bans imposed by some countries on South Africa and sister countries in the region in response to the detection of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.” he said.
In response Akufo-Addo said that the purpose of the visit was to “re-affirm the ties of co-operation and the bonds of friendship between the two countries.”
He also assured that “Ghana will make sure that Africa’s voice is heard loud and clear in the deliberations of the Security Council, both on matters affecting the continent and on global issues, and we will consult broadly to define Africa’s interests,”
In Ivory Coast, Rhamaposa was honoured with a chieftancy tittle by the governor of the Autonomous District of Abidjan, Robert Beugré Mambé.
“Our country will then be your country, second to SA, you are now Ivorian because you are a traditional leader. You are our family.” he said.
In his response, an emotional Ramaphosa
said, “This in many ways also proves our common ancestry. I feel very connected to the people here because we know that we, as Africans in the south, originate from this part of the continent,”.
Adesina, UN frown at West’s quick action to shut Africa
The President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, United Nations (UN) and many advocates in Africa have criticised the US and European countries for taking quick action to shut down Africa without providing the necessary vaccines.
Adesina, in a three-part tweet, last Sunday, said that Africa is not the source of COVID-19, therefore it shouldn’t be punished.
Adesina, who is a campaigner for equitable distribution of COVID-19 vaccines globally also said that Omicron COVID-19 variant and other mutations occur randomly anywhere in the world, so Africa should not be punished for discovering the new variant.
“Africa should not be labelled and penalized for COVID-19 variants and mutations that occur randomly elsewhere in the world. Africa is not the source of COVID-19.
“There must be global justice, equity & fairness in access to vaccines. Global vaccine supply system has underserved Africa. Protecting one’s home alone in the midst of a forest fire does not work. Put out the forest fire.
“Africa must accelerate the manufacturing of its own vaccines & set up its own ‘healthcare security defence system’. Africa must no longer outsource health security of its 1.8 billion people to the benevolence of others.”
UN chief blasts ‘travel apartheid’
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also blasted what he called “travel apartheid” as the U.S. and other countries implement travel bans to stop the spread of the omicron variant.
Guterres told reporters in New York he was concerned with the roughly 56 nations that instituted travel bans just days after the omicron variant was first detected in South Africa, Reuters reported. Guterres said the restrictions were “not only deeply concerning, but ineffective.”
“We have the instruments to have safe travel. Let’s use those instruments to avoid this kind of, allow me to say, travel apartheid, which I think is unacceptable,” Guterres said.
After omicron was detected on Nov. 24, governments were quick to ban travel from certain countries – including the U.S., which barred foreign visitors from eight Southern African nations.
Guterres said on Wednesday it was more effective to test travelers than outright ban them.
Omicron has now spread to the U.S. and about two dozen countries. The World Health Organization and national health agencies have still not determined whether the new variant is more transmissible or more deadly than other variants.
Guterres’ criticism came just hours after the World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus criticized “blanket” travel bans, which he called “deeply concerning.”
“Blanket travel bans will not prevent the international spread of omicron, and they place a heavy burden on lives and livelihoods,” he said, urging countries to instead screen passengers and quarantine international visitors.
