Source: Wikipedia Commons /  The southern end of Baohan Straight Street is the heart of the African area known as “Little Africa” in Dengfeng Subdistrict, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China.

By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC TIMES

CHINA.  For many Africans seeking a better life and economic opportunities, China was supposed to be a paradise of sorts. Since China’s economic boom in the 1990s, thousands of Africans migrated to China. The Chinese referred to them as their African “brothers”.  Today, for many Africans, China has become a living nightmare. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been widespread reports of Africans being evicted from their homes and thrown out on the street left homeless.  African  diplomats have complained to  the Chinese government that  foreigners of African appearance in the city of Guangzhou (known as “Little African”) were being subjected to forceful testing for coronavirus, quarantine and racist harassment and treatment. Chinese ambassadors are being called on  by diplomats to  respond to videos on social media  of African migrants being evicted from apartments and refused entry into hotels. The migrants come mainly  from African countries such as Ghana, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, Kenya and Uganda. 

CNN interviewed more than two dozen Africans living in Guangzhou many of whom told of the same experiences: being left without a home, being subject to random testing for Covid-19, and being quarantined for 14 days in their homes, despite having no symptoms or contact with known patients.

Nigeria Official Confronts Chinese Ambassador   On  Treatment of Nigerians in China

Today I met with the Chinese🇨🇳 Ambassador to Nigeria on the disturbing allegation of ill treatment of Nigerian citizens in China. I showed him the video clip that had made the rounds. He promised to look into it and get back to my office on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/9SUxH0rI7X

— Femi Gbajabiamila (@femigbaja) April 10, 2020

African-Americans Also  Report Being Harassed in China

Credit: U.S. Department of State

The U.S. consulate in Guangzhou, People’s Republic of China, in a security alert on Saturday, said the local police had ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin, as African Americans report discriminatory treatment amid COVID-19 pandemic.

“In response to an increase in COVID-19 infections, officials in the Guangzhou metropolitan area escalated scrutiny of foreign nationals. As part of this campaign, police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin.”

-U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou statement

The U.S.  advises African-Americans or those who believe Chinese officials may suspect them of having contact with nationals of African countries to avoid the Guangzhou metropolitan area until further notice.  The U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou also stated that  local officials launched a round of mandatory tests for COVID-19, followed by mandatory self-quarantine, for anyone with “African contacts,” regardless of recent travel history or previous quarantine completion.  African-Americans have also reported that some businesses and hotels refuse to do business with them.