African Union calls for end of travel bans to some African nations over Omicron

The African Union called on Tuesday for an urgent end to the travel restrictions imposed on several of its member states, stating that the measures penalize governments for sharing data in time, in accordance with international health regulations.

According to the AU, the measures are “a disincentive for information sharing in the future, potentially posing a threat to health security on the continent and globally,” the bloc said in a statement.

Several European Union states, the US and other nations imposed travel bans on seven southern African countries, after they had reported several cases of the Omicron variant.

South African president Cyril Ramaphosa said last week that he was “deeply disappointed” by the action, which he described as unjustified.

The World Health Organization has also warned against hastily imposing travel restrictions, saying that “putting in place travel bans that target Africa attacks global solidarity.”