Sierra Leone?s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU) has taken the organisation to task for remaining silent on the sea, land and air ?blockade? imposed on Ebola affected countries in West Africa.
?It is high-time the African Union Commission ceased to remain silent on border closures and flight cancellations following the outbreak of the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) in the West African sub-region,? Mr. Osman Keh Kamara said during an emergency meeting of African foreign ministers on the Ebola outbreak.
?Conceivably, if there was in existence a mandatory framework document for Africa?s integration and solidarity, an obligation would have compelled some countries to examine the consequences of isolating and stigmatising Ebola affected countries and their respective citizens.
?This Council has the wisdom and competence to adopt a befitting statement on the implicit sea, land and air blockade against Ebola affected countries by some member states of our Union and prescribed containment measures designed to sustain African solidarity,? Mr. Kamara said.
He noted the AU?s ?vision for integration and Africa?s solidarity?, adding: ?We have a responsibility to protect, preserve and bequeath these undiluted noble ideals to successive generations.?
Mr. Kamara went on: ?In the last few days, there have been growing condemnations by world leaders: UN Secretary-General, some former African heads of state, civil societies, Pan-Africanists, UN Specialised Agencies as well as the European Union on the isolation of affected countries.
?The Presidents of Ghana and African Development Bank are the latest leaders to add their voices to the condemnation list, and yet [the] silence of the African Union Commission on this matter is unexplainable.
?In fact not a single member of this Commission has made a symbolic visit to the affected countries like the President of the African Development Bank, the UN System Coordinator for Ebola, the Director of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to name just a few,? said Mr. Kamara who is also Sierra Leone?s ambassador to Ethiopia.
?In this respect, my delegation implores this Council to call on member states of this Union to end the sea, land and air blockade against EVD affected countries and institute containment measures in addition to WHO recommendations for travellers from affected countries; adopt an effective mechanism to mobilise resources in collaboration with the international community to secure curative vaccines for the treatment of the disease,? Mr. Kamara said.
He thanked The Gambia, Nigeria and South Africa ?for their invaluable financial and logistical support? to the Sierra Leone government?s fight against the Ebola virus, adding: ?Sierra Leone is equally gratified with the efforts of the government of the Republic of Ghana for coordinating UN relief efforts to the affected countries.?
GNA
