The Gambia
Republic of The Gambia
republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 18 February 1965 (from UK)
The Gambia as the 1998 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 95 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and | Senegal
18 fieldsLand useshare of 11,300 sq km
Environment-international agreements
- party to:
- Biodiversity, Climate Change, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1998 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 46% (male 296,108; female 295,136)
- 15-64 years:
- 52% (male 330,215; female 336,056)
- 65 years and over:
- 2% (male 18,194; female 16,149) (July 1998 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.12 male(s)/female (1998 est.)
Ethnic groups
African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1%
Government
Republic under multiparty democratic rule; President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996); President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996)
20 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
Legislature, 45 seatsone dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western note: it has been reported but not verified that the name of the MacCarthy Island division has been changed to Central River
Independence
18 February 1965 (from UK); note-The Gambia and Senegal signed an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was dissolved on 30 September 1989
Constitution
- 24 April 1970;
- suspended July 1994;
- rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996;
- reestablished in January 1997
Legal system
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 12 October 1996);
- Vice President Isaton Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997);
- note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- head of government:
- President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996);
- Vice President Isaton Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997);
- note-the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- cabinet:
- Cabinet is appointed by the president
- elections:
- the president is elected by popular vote to a five-year term;
- the number of terms is not restricted;
- election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA 2001)
- election results:
- percent of vote-President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.5%, Ousinou DARBOE 35.8%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly; 49 seats (45 elected, 4 appointed by the president)
- elections:
- last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party-NA; seats by party-APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH];
- National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH];
- People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA];
- United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE];
- note-in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the
- elections of 1996:
- People's Progressive Party or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)], and two opposition parties-the National Convention Party or NCP [former vice president Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP [Hassan Musa CAMARA]
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Crispin GREY-JOHNSON
- chancery:
- Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 785-1399, 1379, 1425
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Gerald Wesley SCOTT
- embassy:
- Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
- mailing address:
- P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
- telephone:
- [220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
Economy
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural | resources and has a limited agricultural base.
28 fieldsGDP-composition by sector(1993 est.)
Economy-overview
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base. About 75% of the population depends on crops and livestock for its livelihood. Small-scale manufacturing activity features the processing of peanuts, fish, and hides. Reexport trade normally constitutes a major segment of economic activity, but the 50% devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994 made Senegalese goods more competitive and hurt the reexport trade.
The Gambia has benefited from a rebound in tourism after its decline in response to the military's takeover in July 1994. Short-run economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid and on responsible government economic management.
Labor force
- total:
- NA
- by occupation:
- agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services 18.9%, government 6.1%
Industries
- processing peanuts, fish, and hides;
- tourism;
- beverages;
- agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking;
- clothing
Agriculture-products
- peanuts, millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels;
- cattle, sheep, goats;
- forest and fishing resources not fully exploited
Exports
- total value:
- $160 million (f.o.b., 1995)
- commodities:
- peanuts and peanut products 70%, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
- partners:
- Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France, Switzerland, UK, Indonesia
Imports
- total value:
- $140 million (c.i.f., 1995)
- commodities:
- foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment
- partners:
- China, Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany
Exchange rates
dalasi (D) per US$1-10.513 (December 1997), 10.200 (1997), 9.789 (1996), 9.546 (1995), 9.576 (1994), 9.129 (1993)
Telephone system
- domestic:
- adequate network of microwave radio relay and open wire
- international:
- microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau; satellite earth station-1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
7 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Army, Navy, National Police, National Guard
5 fieldsTransnational Issues
1 fieldIntroduction
1 fieldCurrent issues
The Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements ("the DOP"), signed in Washington on 13 September 1993, provides for a transitional period not exceeding five years of Palestinian interim self-government in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Permanent status negotiations began on 5 May 1996, but have not resumed since the initial meeting.
Under the DOP, Israel agreed to transfer certain powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority, which includes a Palestinian Legislative Council elected in January 1996, as part of interim self-governing arrangements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. A transfer of powers and responsibilities for the Gaza Strip and Jericho took place pursuant to the Israel-PLO 4 May 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area and in additional areas of the West Bank pursuant to the Israel-PLO 28 September 1995 Interim Agreement and the Israel-PLO 15 January 1997 Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron.
The DOP provides that Israel will retain responsibility during the transitional period for external security and for internal security and public order of settlements and Israelis. Permanent status is to be determined through direct negotiations.
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gambia, The.” The World Factbook 1998. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gambia/1998.