REPUBLIC OF THE GAMBIA

• Official name: Republic of The Gambia
• Location: West Africa
• International organisations: African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, African Union, Commonwealth of Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Organisation of Islamic Conference, United Nations, World Trade Organisation
• Borders: Senegal
• Coastline: North Atlantic Ocean
• Land area: 11,300 Km2
• Population: 1,700,000
• Annual GDP (PPP) per capita: US$1,400 (2009 CIA estimate). World ranking: 168
• Ethnicity: The main ethnic groups in the Gambia are the Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10% and Serahuli 9%. There is a small European minority.
• Languages: English is the official language. Mandinka, Wolof and Fula are the main African languages spoken.
• Religion: More than 90% of the population are Sunni Moslems. Most of the remainder are Christians of various denominations.
• Form of government: Presidential democratic republic. The Gambia consists of five divisions and the capital city.
• Capital: Banjul
• Constitution: The Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia came into effect on 24 April 1970. It was suspended in July 1994 and re-instated with some amendments in January 1997.
• Head of state: The President, elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term.
• Head of government: The President, who appoints the ministers.
• Legislature: The Gambia has a unicameral legislature, the National Assembly, which has 53 member; 48 elected from single-member constituencies for five-year terms, and five appointed by the President.
• Electoral authority: The Independent Electoral Commission administers national elections.
• Freedom House 2011 rating: Political Rights 5, Civil Liberties 5
• Transparency International Corruption Index: 32% (91 of 178 countries rated)
• Reporters Without Borders Press Freedom 2010 Index: 59.5% (125 of 178 countries rated)
• Heritage Foundation Economic Freedom 2010 Index: 57.4% (105 of 178 countries rated)

Political history

The Portuguese explored the area of the Gambia River in the 16th century. In 1588 Portugal sold trade rights in the area to English merchants. The Gambia became part of the British colony of Sierra Leone in 1821, although British control of the interior was not established until 1894, when a protectorate within the present boundaries was proclaimed. The Gambia was granted limited self-government in 1961, and full internal self-government in 1963. The Gambia became independent in February 1965, and became a republic in 1970.

From before independence until 1994, The Gambia was dominated by Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, first as Prime Minister and later as President, and was one of Africa's few functioning democracies. But increasing economic difficulties led to unrest, and in 1981 an attempted coup was suppressed only with the help of Senegalese troops. In July 1994, the army seized power and the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) declared Lt Yahya Jammeh President.

Under international pressure, Jammeh announced a transition plan for return to democratic government in 1996. Presidential and legislative elections have been held regularly since 1996, but foreign observers have described these elections as not free and fair. Jammeh was last re-elected in 2006 with 67% of the vote. His party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction, dominates the legislature. The main opposition party is the United Democratic Party. In a pattern common in Africa, Jammah has grown more despotic, eccentric and corrupt the longer he has been in power.

Freedom House's 2011 report on The Gambia says: "The Gambia is not an electoral democracy. The 2006 presidential election was marred by serious government repression of the media and the opposition. The ruling party swept the 2007 legislative elections, taking 42 of 46 seats... The president and the ruling APRC are in clear control, and opposition involvement is largely symbolic. Official corruption remains a serious problem, although President Yahya Jammeh's recent focus on economic development policies has led to increased anticorruption efforts... The government does not respect freedom of the press. Laws on sedition give the authorities great discretion in silencing dissent, and independent media outlets and journalists are subject to arrests, harassment, and violence... Freedoms of assembly and association are provided by law, though in practice they are constrained by state intimidation... The constitution provides for an independent judiciary, but the courts are hampered by corruption and executive influence."

Updated November 2011