McDonald's Guangzhou branch shut over black people ban sign

US chain McDonald's has apologized after a sign telling black people they were banned from entering a branch in Guangzhou prompted outrage online, following reports of discriminatory treatment toward Africans in the city.

Tensions have flared between police and Africans in the southern metropolis after local officials announced a cluster of Covid-19 cases in a neighborhood with a large migrant population.

As the row escalated, posts widely shared online showed a sign at fast-food chain McDonald's saying black people were not allowed to enter the restaurant.

The chain apologized and a spokesman for McDonald's said the notice is "not representative of our inclusive values."

McDonald's said it removed the sign and temporarily closed the Guangzhou restaurant "immediately upon learning of an unauthorized communication to our guests."

Several Africans have said they had been forcibly evicted by police from their accommodation, refused service at shops and restaurants, and were subject to mass testing and arbitrary quarantines.

The row has also prompted a diplomatic flurry, with ambassadors and envoys from more than 20 African countries meeting assistant foreign minister Chen Xiaodong. Chen promised at the meeting to "lift the health management [measures] on African people, except the confirmed patients," according to a foreign ministry statement.

He said the Guangdong government is "constantly taking measures to improve" and act "according to the principle of non-discrimination."

The statement said Chen asked the envoys to "look at the big picture of China-Africa friendship."

Diplomatic sources said a number of African countries had written a joint letter to the foreign ministry, which condemned the "discrimination and stigmatization of Africans" in China, but had not yet sent it.

Guangzhou's US consulate issued an alert at the weekend advising African-Americans to avoid travel to the city, and the United States accused mainland authorities of xenophobia toward Africans. Beijing has also accused the US of using the row for political purposes to "drive a wedge" between China and Africa.

A total of 111 African nationals in Guangzhou have tested positive.