GAMBIA

Background

Gambia is a strip of land 15 to 30 miles

(25 to 50 kilometres) wide and 295 miles

long on either bank of the Gambia River;

except for a short coastline, it is

surrounded by Senegal. Its unusual shape and size are attributable to territorial

compromises arising from 19th-century Anglo-French rivalry in western Africa.

(from "Gambia, The." Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2006)

After 200 years of British colonial rule The Gambia gained its independence 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. Presidential elections were held in the Gambia on 1

December 2016, where opposition candidate ADAMA BARROW defeated long-

term incumbent Yahya Jammeh. First Jammeh conceded defeat, but later

announced that he was rejecting the results and called for a new election.

Political system

Gambia is a presidential republic with a multi-party system. Head of state

and head of government is the President. The Cabinet of the Gambia is the chief

executive body consisting of the President, a Vice President, and the Secretaries of

State. After seizing power in a bloodless coup in 1994, President Yahya Jammeh

ruled the country for 22 years with an iron fist. Presidential elections held in the

Gambia on 1 December 2016 seemed to end his rule, Jammeh was defeated by

Adama Barrow, but Jammeh refused to step down.

 Country’s Profile

Official Name: Republic of The Gambia

short form: The Gambia

former: Senegambia; federation with Senegal (1982-1989)

Capital City: Banjul (pop. 35 000, with suburbs 500 000)

Other Cities: Serrekunda (pop. 200 000),

Basse Santa Su, Georgetown (Jangjang-bureh), Juffureh.

Government:

Type: Civilian.

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from the UK).

Constitution:16 January 1997.

Geography:

Location: Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean surrounded by

Senegal.

Area: 11,300 sq. km. (4 360 sq. mi.)

Terrain: Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by low hills.

People:
Nationality: Gambian(s).
Population: 1.9 million (2015 UN estimate)
Ethnic groups: Mandinka 40%, Fula 18%, Wolof 14%, Jola 10%, Serahule 9%,
Serere 8%, Krio/Aku Marabout, Manjago, Bambara.
Non-Gambians 13% of the population.
Religions: Muslim 95%, Christian 4%, animists.
Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula (Pulaar), Jola, other
indigenous languages.
Literacy: 38%

Natural resources: Fish, titanium, tin, zircon, silica sand.

Agriculture products: Peanuts, rice, millet, sorghum, fish, palm kernels,

vegetables, livestock, forestry.

Industries: Peanut products, construction, telecommunications, brewing; tourism.

Exports - commodities: peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels

Exports - partners: China 47.6%, India27.2%, France 5.9%, UK 4.9% (2015)

Imports - commodities: foodstuffs, manufactures, fuel, machinery and transport

equipment

Imports - partners: China 34.2%, Brazil8.1%, Senegal 6.9%, India

5.7%,Netherlands 4.8% (2015)

Currency: Dalasi (GMD)

 The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Gambia was worth 1.01 billion US

dollars in 2017. The GDP value of Gambia represents less than 0.01 percent of the

world economy. GDP in Gambia averaged 0.49 USD Billion from 1966 until 2017,

reaching an all time high of 1.01 USD Billion in 2017 and a record low of 0.04

USD Billion in 1966.

The Gross Domestic Product per capita in Gambia was last recorded at 1561.77 US

dollars in 2017, when adjusted by purchasing power parity (PPP). The GDP per

Capita, in Gambia, when adjusted by Purchasing Power Parity is equivalent to 9

percent of the world's average. GDP per capita PPP in Gambia averaged 1527.72

USD from 1990 until 2017, reaching an all time high of 1644.24 USD in 2010 and

a record low of 1428.14 USD in 1996.

REFERENCE

https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/gambia.htm

https://tradingeconomics.com/gambia/gdp

https://tradingeconomics.com/gambia/gdp-per-capita-ppp