AU kicks against border closure as a result of Ebola

The Executive Council of the African Union (AU) held Monday 8 September an emergency meeting in Addis Ababa to determine a continental plan of action against the spread of Ebola.

Eagerly awaited on the subject, the institution called African countries to lift all flight restrictions, "so that people can move between countries and to trade and promote economic activities", said the President of the AU Commission, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. "Adequate monitoring mechanisms should be put in place, at the points of departure of citizens and the entry points", she however said.

This opinion was especially awaited by NGOs trying to fight against the virus, who fear a dangerous isolation of patients and an increased difficulty to care. "We must be careful not to put in place measures that would have a social and economic impact greater than the disease itself", explained during the meeting the Chairperson of the AU Commission.

But the recommendation of the AU will not necessarily followed by the States of the African continent. No action has indeed been taken to compel the Member States to implement this decision, nor on deadlines for its implementation.

Senegal had announced Monday afternoon that it would maintain its borders closed, but undertook to open "very soon" "humanitarian corridors" to let humanitarian organizations.