The Gambia

The Republic of The Gambia is a nation of western Africa, entirely surrounded by Senegal, except for a short coastline which is the outlet of the Gambia River to the North Atlantic Ocean. A former British colony, it became independent in 1965. The capital is Banjul. \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Republic of The Gambia

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(In Detail)	(Full size)

''National motto: Progress, Peace, Prosperity

Official language

English, Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, others

Capital

Banjul

Largest City

Kanifing

President

Yahya Jammeh

Area
- Total
- % water

Ranked 158th
11,300 km²
11.5%

Population \n
- Total\n
- Density

Ranked 145th\n
1,367,124 (July 2000 est.)\n
121/km²

Independence\n
- Date\n

From the United Kingdom\n
February 18, 1965\n

Currency

Dalasi (D)

Time zone

UTC

National anthem

For The Gambia, Our Homeland

Internet TLD

.GM

Calling Code

220

Table of contents

1 History
2 Politics
3 (Subdivisions)
4 Geography
5 Economy
6 Demographics
7 Culture
8 Miscellaneous topics
9 External links and references

History

\nMain article: History of The Gambia The Gambia was once part of the Ghana and Songhai Empires. In 1588, the claimant to the Portuguese throne, Antonio, Prior of Crato, sold exclusive trade rights on The Gambia River to English merchants; this grant was confirmed by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I. In 1618, King James I granted a charter to a British company for trade with The Gambia and the Gold Coast (now Ghana). During the late 17th century and throughout the 18th, England and France struggled continuously for political and commercial supremacy in the regions of the Senegal and Gambia Rivers. The 1783 Treaty of Versailles gave Great Britain possession of The Gambia, but the French retained a tiny enclave at Albreda on the north bank of the river which was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1857. During World War II, Gambian troops fought with the Allies in Burma. After World War II, the pace of constitutional reform quickened. Following general elections in 1962, full internal self-government was granted in 1963. The Gambia achieved independence on February 18, 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth. 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.