“I am sorry to tell you we are banning travel, thank you, goodbye.”

South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa has for the first time detailed what he said was a “patronising” and “disrespectful” phone call from Europe to alert him of the decision on the travel bans.

Two weeks ago, several developed nations red listed travel between their countries and Southern Africa after the discovery of the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

Ramaphosa was addressing the Senegal Peace and Security Forum in Dakar on Monday where European leaders were in attendance when he scolded the approach of the global north to partnership and multilateralism.

He said Africa wanted a relationship with the global north that was based on mutual respect, but this had not been forthcoming from the latter, while fraternalism underpinned the continent’s approach to partnership.

To demonstrate this point, he told the hundreds of delegates attending the forum about the abrasive manner in which European countries treated South Africa over the Omicron variant.

In the one-way conversation, he said the European leaders said: “I am sorry to tell you we are banning travel, thank you, goodbye.”

He said there was no discussion nor attempts to hear what Pretoria’s views were.

“We as Africans are respectful. We have always been - and maybe that is where our mistake is and why we were colonised in the way we were colonised because we respect too much, and we say respect us as well.”

President of the European Union Council Charles Michel reassured African leaders in attendance of the region’s commitment to partnership – but did not address the issue over the bans – except to say the expressions that there was medical apartheid in the handling of the pandemic was “dramatic”.

On Sunday, Nigeria was also added to the UK's travel ban list.

Covid has become an emotional affair. If this sickness started from Africa, by now the whole western world would have been placing all Africans in foreign countries in specialized prison facilities. Africa won't be blackmailed. Covid is a Chinese & Western disease, simple as ABC.

BlossomingVines:
Covid has become an emotional affair. If this sickness started from Africa, by now the whole western world would have been placing all Africans in foreign countries in specialized prison facilities. Africa won't be blackmailed. Covid is a Chinese & Western disease, simple as ABC.

Them go still dey shock as the virus is not potent in Africa as it is in Europe, North America and South America.

DubaiLandLord1:
Them go still dey shock as the virus is not potent in Africa as it is in Europe, North America and South America.

Inspite of having the least Vaccination records, we have the lowest death rates. Every African deserves an applause abeg. Africa is gold, gold is Africa

So southafrica can cry for mutual respect
Anyways Europe has always been a ravaging mad continent
I am team America

Let me see how Jubril will recharge his battery
This is goodnews to Nigerians but bad news to helianus and his zombies

Tetrahedron:

So southafrica can cry for mutual respect
Anyways Europe has always been a ravaging mad continent
I am team America

Ramaphosa is the one who went on an African tour apologising to everyone after the xenophobic attacks. So respect the man - Zuma would never have done that.

We as Africans are respectful. We have always been - and maybe that is where our mistake is and why we were colonised in the way we were colonised because we respect too much

It’s good he knows. When Africans learn respect is not needed in their society we go very fast to the extreme. The only time a white person feels disrespected by your action is when you gain leverage over him/her. Other times respect na for your pocket.

BlackfireX:

Why u laughing WhackLiarXtreme? Did Buhari get a call?

Anyway, I think he was just summing it up (what they said).

He is 100% right. Africa should rethink how it engages with the world entirely. This same Europe was the epicenter of deaths and the pandemic I am sure no one rudely called and spoke to them in such abrupt manner.

The western countries have been feeling like gods lately. The great Britain, Canada etc keep slapping travel ban on us at every given opportunity. Is it because they're in alliance with the United States who are currently world power? I mean it is obvious it is because they know they have the backing of the US that they can do anyhow and damn whatever we feel. These guys don't even think we are humans, do they? No. They feel they can treat us like animals and get away with it.

They wouldn't be getting away with this if we can man up and tell them that we've had enough of their disrespect. Too bad that won't happen.
Alot of delusional Nigerians already see them as some kinda heros

vedaxcool:
He is 100% right. Africa should rethink how it engages with the world entirely. This same Europe was the epicenter of deaths and the pandemic I am sure no one rudely called and spoke to them in such abrupt manner.

abi, Asia didn't yell at Venice for their rat plague...