The Gambia
Republic of The Gambia
republic under multiparty democratic ruleIndependence 18 February 1965 (from UK)
The Gambia as the 2004 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 115 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Introduction
1 fieldBackground
The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a 1996 constitution and presidential elections, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. The country undertook another round of presidential and legislative elections in late 2001 and early 2002. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH, the leader of the coup, has been elected president in all subsequent elections.
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, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands
- signed, but not ratified:
- none of the selected agreements
People
19 fieldsPer 1,000 population(2004 est.)
Male · female
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 44.7% (male 347,349; female 344,264)
- 15-64 years:
- 52.6% (male 403,297; female 410,382)
- 65 years and over:
- 2.7% (male 21,459; female 20,097) (2004 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.03 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.01 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 0.98 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 1.07 male(s)/female
- total population:
- 1 male(s)/female (2004 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 18 October 1996; President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996
18 fieldsPresidential electionpercent of vote
National Assembly, 48 seats, elected 17 January 2002one dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Constitution
- 24 April 1970;
- suspended July 1994;
- rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996;
- reestablished 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 18 October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 he was Chairman of the Junta);
- Vice President Isatou 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; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he Chairman of the Junta);
- Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997);
- note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
- cabinet:
- Cabinet appointed by the president
- elections:
- president elected by popular vote for a five-year term;
- the number of terms is not restricted;
- election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006)
- election results:
- Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%
Legislative branch
unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, five appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
- elections:
- last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA January 2007)
- election results:
- percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,
Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH];
- Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE];
- National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA];
- National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH];
- People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]
note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996
International organization participation
ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Lena Manga Sagnia SECK
- chancery:
- Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 785-1379
- FAX:
- [1] (202) 785-1430
Diplomatic representation from the US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Jackson McDONALD
- embassy:
- Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
- mailing address:
- P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
- telephone:
- [220] 392856, 392858, 391971
- FAX:
- [220] 392475
Economy
The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a limited agricultural base.
38 fieldsGDP - composition by sector(2003 est.)
Trading partnersexports left, imports right
Electricity
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 a 1999 government-imposed preshipment inspection plan, and instability of the Gambian dalasi (currency) have drawn some of the reexport trade away from The Gambia.
The government's 1998 seizure of the private peanut firm Alimenta eliminated the largest purchaser of Gambian groundnuts; the following two marketing seasons have seen substantially lower prices and sales. A decline in tourism in 2000 has also held back growth. Unemployment and underemployment rates are extremely high.
Shortrun economic progress remains highly dependent on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice, and on expected growth in the construction sector.
Agriculture - products
rice, millet, sorghum, peanuts, corn, sesame, cassava (tapioca), palm kernels; cattle, sheep, goats
Industries
- processing peanuts, fish, and hides;
- tourism;
- beverages;
- agricultural machinery assembly, woodworking, metalworking;
- clothing
Exchange rates
dalasi per US dollar - NA (2003), 19.9182 (2002), 15.6872 (2001), 12.7876 (2000), 11.3951 (1999)
Communications
8 fieldsTelephone system
- general assessment:
- adequate; a packet switched data network is available
- domestic:
- adequate network of microwave radio relay and open-wire
- international:
- country code - 220;
- microwave radio relay links to Senegal and Guinea-Bissau;
- satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Atlantic Ocean)
Transportation
6 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved only
Networkskm
Military
Gambian National Army (GNA) (including Naval Unit), Presidential Guard
6 fieldsMilitary manpower - military age and obligation
18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription (2001)
Transnational Issues
1 fieldDisputes - international
attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, other illegal activities, and political instability from separatist movement in southern Senegal's Casamance region
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Gambia, The.” The World Factbook 2004. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/gambia/2004.