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.
Country profile: The Gambia
The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours it has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence. This stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts.
This has made The Gambia heavily dependent on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop.
AT-A-GLANCE- Politics: Gambia has been relatively stable under the iron-fisted rule of Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1994
- Economy: One of Africa's smallest countries has few natural resources and is highly dependent on peanut exports
- International: Gambia separates northern Senegal from the southern Casamance province; a dispute over ferry tariffs led to a border blockade in 2005
Consequently, the country relies on foreign aid to fill gaps in its balance of payments.President Jammeh wants to turn The Gambia into an oil-producing state. He says this could usher in a "new future". However, the country has yet to strike crude oil.
Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange, as is the money sent home by Gambians living abroad. Most visitors are drawn to the resorts that occupy a stretch of the Atlantic coast.
In 1994 The Gambia's elected government was toppled in a military coup. The country returned to constitutional rule two years later when its military leader ran as a civilian and won a presidential election. But the credibility of the poll was questioned by a group of Commonwealth ministers.
- Full name: Republic of The Gambia
- Population: 1.5 million (UN, 2005)
- Capital: Banjul
- Area: 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles)
- Major languages: English, indigenous languages
- Major religions: Islam, Christianity
- Life expectancy: 54 years (men), 57 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 dalasi = 100 butut
- Main exports: Peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
- GNI per capita: US $290 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .gm
- International dialling code: +220
President: Yahya Jammeh
Yahya Jammeh seized power in 1994 as a young army lieutenant and has won three widely criticised multi-party elections since then.
He won his third five-year term in September 2006 with more than two-thirds of the votes cast. His main rival, Oussainou Darboe, rejected the result, saying there had been widespread intimidation by local chiefs, governors and members of the security forces.
Commonwealth observers said overt support for Jammeh from public officials during the run-up to the vote may have given him an unfair advantage.
Jammeh's government has been criticised by international rights groups for its attitude to civil liberties, especially freedom of the press.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has described press freedom in Gambia as "catastrophic", with death threats, surveillance and arbitrary night-time arrests the daily lot of journalists "who do not sing the government's praises".
Many Gambians privately disapprove of the iron-fisted nature of his rule, which has seen political opponents and journalists imprisoned without charge, but say he has done much to improve schools, hospitals and roads.
Born in 1965, Yahya Jammeh joined the army in 1984 upon leaving school. He came to power in 1994 when a bloodless military coup ousted the elected president, Dawda Jawara, who had led the country since independence.
Upon taking power he set up bodies to investigate corruption and recover pilfered public funds.
Gambia's private media face severe restrictions, with radio stations and newspapers having to pay large licence fees.
A commission with wide-ranging powers, from issuing licences to jailing journalists, was set up under a 2002 media law. It was seen by critics as a threat to press freedom.
Further legislation introduced in late 2004 provided jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or sedition. Deyda Hydara, one of the press law's leading critics and the editor of private newspaper The Point, was shot dead days after the law was passed.
In 2006 media rights organisation Reporters Without Borders described the press freedom situation as "catastrophic".
State-run Radio Gambia broadcasts tightly-controlled news, which is also relayed by private radio stations. Radio France Internationale is available via an FM relay.
The government operates the only national television station.
The press
Television
Radio
The Gambia has no significant mineral or natural resource deposits 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. Despite an announced program to begin privatizing key parastatals, no plans have been made public that would indicate that the government intends to follow through on its promises. Unemployment and underemployment rates remain extremely high; short-run economic progress depends on sustained bilateral and multilateral aid, on responsible government economic management, on continued technical assistance from the IMF and bilateral donors, and on expected growth in the construction sector.
Gambian natural resources include fish, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon, silica sand, clay, petroleum
almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa
Gambian religion is Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%.
Natural hazards in The Gambia include drought (rainfall has dropped by 30% in the last 30 years).
Travel Advice on Gambia
SUMMARY
- You should not travel by road from The Gambia to Casamance in southern Senegal because of an increase in fighting between rebel factions involving the Senegalese armed forces.
- Care should be taken when driving or walking on roads, particularly at night, due to unpredictable driving standards and lack of street lighting.
- Malaria is prevalent in The Gambia. You should seek medical advice about taking anti-malarial medication before, during and after your visit. In addition, you should take precautions to avoid being bitten by mosquitoes. Please see the Health Section of this travel advice for more details.
- The threat from terrorism is low, but you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks, which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.
- Around 50,000 British nationals visit The Gambia each year. Most visits are trouble-free. The main types of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in The Gambia are for replacing lost and stolen passports and financial assistance. Crime against tourists is increasing and you should take sensible precautions and remain vigilant in public places.
- We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive medical and travel insurance before travelling. You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Please see: Travel Insurance.
SAFETY AND SECURITY
The Gambia Country Profile.
National Assembly elections took place on 25 January 2007 and passed off peacefully.
You are advised to avoid political gatherings and demonstrations.
You should not stay or travel in the Casamance region west of Kolda. This includes travel by road into the region from The Gambia. For further details please see the travel advice for Senegal.
You can drive on a UK driving licence for up to three months.
The EU has published a list of air carriers that are subject to an operating ban or restrictions within the community. You should check the following link to see whether this will affect your travel: http://europa.eu.int/comm/transport/air/safety/flywell_en.htm
LOCAL LAWS AND CUSTOMS
The Gambian authorities will take strong action against anyone importing, exporting or found in possession of drugs or contraband. You should not accept packages on behalf of anyone without knowing the contents.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
HEALTH
GENERAL
Money
You are advised to bring traveller’s cheques or cash to The Gambia because only a few places accept credit cards. Bureaux de Change and local banks do not.