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United Nations chief Antonio Guterres criticised Monday the closure of borders "even in the most developed countries in the world," after U.S. President Donald Trump slapped a ban on travellers from seven Muslim-majority countries.
The new U.N. secretary general was speaking at the opening of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa, where he praised African nations for being "among the world's largest and most generous hosts of refugees."
"African borders remain open for those in need of protection when so many borders are being closed, even in the most developed countries in the world," Guterres said to loud applause.
The 28th African Union summit is the first since Trump's election, and the consequences of his presidency for the African continent are already being felt.
Trump's administration has faced outrage and widespread protests over the move to ban citizens from seven countries including Libya, Somalia and Sudan in Africa.
"It is clear that globally we are entering very turbulent times. For example the very country (where) our people were taken as slaves ... has now decided to ban refugees from some of our countries," said outgoing A.U. Commission chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, adding that it is a test to African “unity and solidarity.”
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