The European Union opens its borders to visitors from 14 countries including four African countries following months of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

The Gambia is among the African countries ban from entering the EU effective July 1, 2020.

Algeria, Morocco, Rwanda and Tunisia are the only African countries named on the visitors “safe” list who are allowed to enter EU territory. 

The EU said its criteria took into consideration the epidemiological data and for now only 14 countries are on the safe list. 

China, Brazil and the U.S are the high profile countries on the ban list. However the EU said it was ready to add China if the Chinese government offers a reciprocal deal for EU travellers.

Meanwhile other African countries are using reciprocity to also ban EU citizens from visiting their countries. Gabon and Senegal are the two African countries that have invoked the principle of reciprocity. 

“All diplomatic missions have been instructed to deny tourist and business visas to visitors from the European Union as the country resumes international fights this week in line with the principle of reciprocity,” Gabon’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Senegal’s Tourism Minister Alioune Sarr said Thursday on the ministry’s Facebook page that it will reciprocate any measures taken against its citizens as it prepares to resume international flights on July 15. 

The Gambia government has not yet made a statement on the EU ban for Gambian visitors.