Following a meeting yesterday, the French government has warned all its nationals to avoid travelling to Sierra Leone and Liberia due to the Ebola outbreak.
Paris also asked Air France, one of only three airlines flying to and from Freetown, to suspend flights to the Sierra Leone capital. But on both counts they did not affect Guinea.
According to the Reuters news agency, the French government said its decision was aimed at its nationals whose presence was not absolutely necessary.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday it had shut a laboratory in Sierra Leone and withdrawn staff from there after a Senegalese health worker there was infected.
Information minister, Alpha Kanu has expressed shock and surprise at the French decision.
"As a member nation of the WHO, France has acted contrary to the advice given by the organisation against travel bans to affected countries", he said.
"We are surprised they would come to this decision but heartened by the fact that Brussels Airlines have resumed flight" after the cancelled their flights over the weekend following the refusal by the Senegalese authorities to allow their aircraft to land there for a crew change.
Paul Delafaille, Brussels Airlines country manager said Dakar had now allowed the flight but that it would have to fly direct to Brussels from Freetown and would reduce its frequency to twice weekly instead of the four times it used to fly.
(C) Politico 28/08/14
