West African travel and mineral exports face an increased risk of disruption as response to Ebola virus intensifies
By Dr. Robert Besseling

Principal Sub-Saharan Africa Analyst at IHS Country Risk

August 05, 2014

Travel and imports of perishable cargo into Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Liberia will be disrupted, especially at large international ports such as Monrovia, Freetown, and Conakry. Most mining companies report that mine, port, and rail operations are unaffected so far, although various precautions have been taken, including frequent medical checks, the imposition of travel restrictions, and the evacuation of non-essential staff. Mineral exports, including iron ore and diamonds, are increasingly likely to face disruption if mining companies place local workers on leave.

On 2 August Emirates airline suspended all flights to Conakry until further notice, becoming the first major international airline to do so. Other major airlines serving Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia include Royal Air Maroc and Brussels Airlines, while Air France serves Guinea and Sierra Leone, and British Airways serves Sierra Leone and Liberia.

At the end of July, both Sierra Leone and Liberia declared a state of emergency, giving additional powers to police and the military to enforce the closure of public spaces and house-to-house searches to trace victims. On 22 July, a Liberian man died from Ebola after arriving at Lagos airport in Nigeria, and countries in the region have increased monitoring operations at airports and borders. In May, Senegal temporarily closed its borders with Guinea.

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