On UK travel ban, Burundi threatens to apply reciprocity if the decision is not reviewed
RegionWeek Newsletter Vol IV, Issue #156 | Wednesday, February 3, 2021
This is RegionWeek Newsletter for the 4th Season (January-June 2020), a briefing that adds depth to strategic news events and topics. A quick note that shares ideas on what you can do next. Business Leaders, Decision Makers, and Young Professionals trust RegionWeek for concise analysis and Unique perspectives.
Dear Readers,
Reacting to the recent travel ban by the United Kingdom, and the decision to add Burundi to its red list, the Burundi Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the decision deviates from the reality on the ground in Burundi.
It was reminded that Burundi is among one of the countries in the world where the covid-19 pandemic is under control. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a short statement published on Twitter mentioned that Burundi could apply the principle of reciprocity if this decision is not reviewed.
British Transport Minister Grant Shapps announced the new bans on Thursday, with the two Middle Eastern airlines announcing flight suspensions a few hours later.
Shapps said the decision, which came into effect from 1300GMT on Friday, was a response to new evidence showing the likely spread of a coronavirus variant first identified in South Africa to the newly banned countries.
“This means people who have been in or transited through these countries will be denied entry, except British, Irish, and third-country nationals with residence rights who must self-isolate for ten days at home,” Shapps said on Twitter.
Everyone else is banned completely, and the UK government announced that some direct flights to Britain, such as those from UEA were no longer allowed.
In Burundi, from Jan 3 to 3 February 2021, there have been 1,664 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 2 deaths.
According to New York Times, there have been at least 3,852,600 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United Kingdom, according to Public Health England. As of Wednesday morning, 108,013 people had died. Due to a data entry error, nearly 16,000 people who tested positive between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2 were not recorded in the daily number of reported cases.
Thanks for reading!
Fabrice Iranzi, Editor in Chief
RegionWeek.com
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IN THE REGION
Sales from Kenya's export processing zones have hit 80 billion shillings (about 726 million U.S. dollars) in 2020, a government official said on Tuesday. Benjamin Chesang, manager for research, Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) told Xinhua in Nairobi that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, sales figures have remained similar as compared to 2019. "Our key market remains the U.S. due to the preferential access of Kenyan goods under the Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) program," Chesang said during a trade forum on Kenya's textile and apparel sector. He noted that other markets for Kenyan goods are countries in the European Union that have also signed a trade agreement with Kenya. (Xinhua)
Tanzania’s government Monday launched a nationwide campaign to promote steam therapy to curb the spread of COVID-19. Speaking to reporters in Tabora, Regional Administration and Local Governments Minister Suleiman Jafo said the campaign is aimed to promote alternative remedies, including steam inhalation and consumption of more fruits and vegetables to fight infections and boost immunity. “The coronavirus has no place in our country. We will effectively kill the virus by steam inhalation, and eating fruits and vegetables,” he said. According to him steam therapy, which entails a concoction of herbs infused with neem, is “the best way to fight infections”.The minister also advised people in the East African nation to eat ginger, garlic, watermelon oranges, and lemons to boost their immunity. (AA)
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has ordered the suspension of a multimillion-dollar fund backed by European nations that supports the work of local groups focusing on democracy and good governance. Museveni, who was re-elected last month in a disputed vote, in a letter to his finance minister charges that money withdrawn from the Democratic Governance Facility has been “used to finance activities and organizations designed to subvert Government under the guise of improving governance.” Museveni said that he was never consulted on the establishment of the fund with cash reserves of up to £100 million and “operated exclusively by a foreign mission” in the East African country. (AP)
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