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The Chinese Ambassador to the Gambia, HE Ma Jianchun has expressed regret over his government’s position meted out to Africans over the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. He also promised that some form of corrective measures will be taken to solve the issue.
This information was revealed by the Gambia Foreign Affairs minister Dr Momodou Tangara, while responding to questions raised by the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters on Wednesday at the National Assembly Assembly’s Committee room one within the Assembly building in Banjul.
The Standing Committee on Human Rights and Constitutional Matters had engaged the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the maltreatment of Africans in China in the context of COVID-19 and the position of The Gambia Government regarding the incident.
According to the Foreign Affairs minister Dr. Tangara, the Chinese Ambassador was earlier this week summoned by his Ministry for an explanation over the treatment of Africans and particularly Gambians in China.
The Gambia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Dr. Momodou Tangara told the members of the Committee which was Chaired by the Speaker Hon Mariam Denton that there are a total of 24 students at Wuhan in China all of who were assisted financially by the government of the Gambia since the outbreak of COVID-19.
Minister Tangara confirmed that there are another 23 Gambians stranded in Senegal who might have gone on treatment and could not come home plus another 6 students.
“There are another one hundred (100) or more in Northern Spyros with whom we do not have any diplomatic relations; but government will try to give support to all of our citizens elsewhere in the world,” he disclosed.
Asked about efforts the government is doing to get these people back? Tangara responded; “we do not only have our citizens in Senegal but there are many other Gambians stranded in other parts of the world. Even if we want to repatriate them, we cannot simply because all airspaces are closed and land borders. And also we as a nation do not and cannot bring back all our citizens from different places in the world, we lack the resources.”
However, Dr. Tangara promised that they will put all the data together and put in before the COVID-19 Task Force in their next meeting, where the Minister of Finance will advise what kind of assistance can be offered.
“We are in an exceptional situation and therefore it needs exceptional measures,” Tangara noted. The National Assembly Committee also demanded that the minister informs the Chinese Ambassador to The Gambia the concerns of the Committee.
The following points were recommended to the minister and his Technical Team that attended the Wednesday meeting;
1)Government swiftly intervene and relate the disappointment of the National Assembly to the Chinese Government about the inhuman treatment meted out to African Nationals, including Gambians,
2) that China immediately ensures the cessation of the human rights violations targeting Africans,
3) demands that Africans and Gambians in particular, are treated fairly and humanly as Chinese and other nationals, and
4) finally, we demand that the ministry provide regular updates /brief to this committee on the situation.
Members of the Foreign minister’s Technical Committee who attended the meeting include PS Touray, Officer responsible for Asian Affairs, Mr. Hydara and Communications Officer Mr. Saikou Ceesay.
The Assembly Committee’s next meeting with the Minister and Technical Team is scheduled for Tuesday 21st April 2020 at 10am at the National Assembly Building.
Reporting by The Digest News.
Story credit: The Daily News.
The Daily News contributed to this story by providing the information.