The United States and African nations have complained both publicly and in private over alleged racist mistreatment of Africans in China due to the coronavirus epidemic, particularly in the southern city of Guangzhou.

Key points: People of African origin have reported being made homeless and having passports seized

People of African origin have reported being made homeless and having passports seized Chinese authorities say they are trying to stem imported cases

Chinese authorities say they are trying to stem imported cases The African Union, Nigeria and Ghana have summoned Chinese ambassadors

In recent days, Africans in Guangzhou have reported being ejected from their apartments by their landlords, being tested for coronavirus several times without being given results and being shunned and discriminated against in public.

"I've been sleeping under the bridge for four days with no food to eat, I cannot buy food anywhere, no shops or restaurants will serve me," Tony Mathias, an exchange student from Uganda who was forced from his apartment, told AFP.

"We're like beggars on the street," he said.

A US Embassy security alert on Saturday said "police ordered bars and restaurants not to serve clients who appear to be of African origin", and local officials launched mandatory testing and self-quarantine for "anyone with 'African contacts".

"African-Americans have also reported that some businesses and hotels refuse to do business with them," it said.

African diplomats in Beijing have met with Chinese foreign ministry officials and "stated in very strong terms their concern and condemnation of the disturbing and humiliating experiences our citizens have been subjected to", Sierra Leone's embassy in Beijing said in a statement.

It added that 14 citizens had been put into compulsory, 14-day quarantine.

A note was sent to China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, copying the chair of the African Union, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and all African foreign ministers.

"The Group of African Ambassadors in Beijing immediately demands the cessation of forceful testing, quarantine and other inhuman treatments meted out to Africans," the note said.

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The ambassadors' note highlighted a number of reported incidents, including that Africans were being ejected from hotels in the middle of the night, the seizure of passports, and threats of visa revocation, arrest or deportation.

Having brought under control the original outbreak centred on the city of Wuhan, China is now concerned about imported cases and is stepping up scrutiny of foreigners coming into the country, and tightening border controls.

Foreigners across China have reported a rise in xenophobia. The Government has denied any discrimination.

Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to seek, up and down arrows for volume. Watch Duration: 20 seconds 20 s Staff at a barber shop in Beijing said they had been told not to serve "foreign friends".

African nations summon Chinese ambassadors

The police and public health bureau in Guangzhou on Tuesday told reporters officials had responded to rumours that "300,000 black people in Guangzhou were setting off a second epidemic", which "caused panic".

Chinese foreign affairs official Liu Baochun said Guangzhou was enforcing anti-virus measures on anyone who entered the city from across the national border, regardless of nationality, race or gender.

In unusually open criticism of Beijing, Nigerian legislator Akinola Alabi tweeted a video of a meeting between the leader of Nigeria's Lower House of Parliament, Femi Gbajabiamila, and Chinese ambassador Zhou Pingjian.

"It's almost undiplomatic the way I'm talking, but it's because I'm upset about what's going on," Mr Gbajabiamila said in the video.

"We take it very seriously," Mr Zhou replied.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama said he summoned the ambassador to express "extreme concern" and call for an immediate government response.

Ghana summoned the Chinese ambassador as Foreign Minister Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey condemned the "inhumane" treatment, a statement said.

The chair of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, said he summoned the Chinese ambassador to the AU, Liu Yuxi, to express "our extreme concern".

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A statement from Kenya's Foreign Ministry noted "unfair responses against foreigners, particularly of African origin", from some locals in Guangzhou, especially landlords.

The statement said the Chinese embassy in Nairobi has told Kenya's Foreign Ministry that authorities in Guangzhou "have been tasked to take immediate action to safeguard the legitimate rights of the Africans concerned".

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian on Thursday told reporters China's most urgent task was to prevent "overseas imports" of the virus but acknowledged "there might be some misunderstandings in the implementation of measures".

China treats all foreigners equally, he said.

The Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe, however, dismissed the accusation that Africans were being deliberately targeted.

"It is harmful to sensationalise isolated incidents," it said in a tweeted statement.

"China treats all individuals in the country, Chinese and foreign alike, as equals."

ABC/wires