Arthur Pereira, edited by Laura Laplaud 2:06 p.m., December 01, 2021

Air links between France and seven countries in southern Africa were suspended due to the discovery of the Covid-19 variant, called Omicron.

As a result, some travelers found themselves without a way to get home.

This is the case of Kevin, 27, stranded in South Africa since Friday.

He didn't expect to stay in South Africa that long.

When he was due to return to France last Friday, Kévin, 27, found himself without any means of returning home, stranded because of the Omicron variant.

His first flight is postponed, the second canceled.

Flights with southern Africa will resume on Saturday with "drastic supervision", the government announced on Wednesday.

It was time for this young man, who has a flight scheduled for January 3 to Paris.

The Frenchman says he has no news from the French authorities

Since the announcement of the discovery of a new variant of Covid-19, called Omicron, several countries including France had decided Friday to suspend their flights from southern Africa.

Among the countries concerned: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

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But for five days, the scenario has been repeating itself. While he thought he could board a plane, headed for the French capital, his flight was postponed. "It turns out, when we get to January 3, they will further postpone the date," he fears. Meanwhile, Kevin has been sleeping at the hotel for five days, at his expense. "We have to tap into our savings or even ask our family to help us," he testifies. Since Friday, he has spent between 300 and 350 euros for accommodation.

While the suspension of air links with southern African countries was to end on Tuesday evening, government spokesman Gabriel Attal announced at the end of the Council of Ministers on Wednesday that these flights will be restored on Saturday with a "drastic supervision".

"From this, a new reinforced protocol will apply for international travel," he said.