The Gambia (Smiling Coast of Africa)
West Africa:
Please see below..., there is The Gambia- Administrative map!
Surrunded by Senegal, with a 50 miles coast lines, this is Africa's smallest country. The Gambia river flanked by mangrooves & low hills, flow from East to West into North Atilantic Ocean.
Gambia's climate is tropical with two distinct wet and dry season.
Though Gambia is small it offers wide variety of places offering tourist excursions & attractions!
Weather
Although the months of heaviest rainfall are August and Sebtember,
we find that most rain occured at night and has not destracted from the enjoyment of your holiday. Nevertheless, a lightweight rain umbrella may be useful in these months.
Between January and May evenings and mornings can be cooler than people expect. For those planning to travel inland away from the coast and the benefit of the sea breeze, it's important to note that temperatures during the summer can reach 42 degrees.The Gambia enjoy the virtually uninterrupted sunshine and high daytime temperatures with almost rainfall from November to June. From July to October the humidity level is high as the tropical sun will be puntuated by short but spectacular rain storms.
Languages & cultures
The Gambia is former Bristish colony and the official language is English but their are several tribal languages including Mandinka, Serahule, Fula, Jola, Wolof, etc.
The people of Gambia are friendly and hospitable and life is taken at a very relaxed place.
To accept this is essential, after all you will be on holiday.
The most common Gambian dishes are Benechin (rice & vegetables) or
Domoda (meat, stewed in groundnut butter and served with rice).
Transportation
The is no railway and the only public transport are Buses & Taxes which cover the main route and some Bush roads, but do not run to a schedule. They are cheap and very over-crowded but a great way of obsorbing the local flavour. Car hire is also available but a bit expensive.
GeographyLocation: West Africa, at the mouth of River Gambia into the Atlantic Ocean (west), surrounded by Senegal. See map.
Capital: Banjul(former Bathurst)
Surface: 11.295 km2 (there of 1.300 km2 water)
Coastline: 80 km
Climate: Tropical savannah climate with a hot rainy season (June to November) and a cooler dry season (November to May).
Natural hazards: Rainfall has dropped some 30% over the last 30 years.
Regions: 1 city (Banjul) and 5 divisions: Lower River, McCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western Division.
Land use: Arable land (18%), permanent pastures (9%), forests and woodland (28%), other (45%) (1993 est.). The patterns of land use in The Gambia are related to the different vegetation zones. These again depend heavily on the fluvial influence and soil conditions, as the climatic conditions are relatively homogeneous all over the country.
Cities: The main urban agglomeration is the Kombo St. Mary area west and south of Banjul, including the suburban town of Serrekunda. The countries second town, Brikama, lies to the south but the urban zones of Serrekunda and Brikama are almost connected. Banjul, the capital situated at the mouth of River Gambia, is loosing its importance to boomtowns like Serrekunda and Brikama. Further inland, the transit towns of Kerewan and Farafenni are growing on the cost of the earlier riverine centers of Georgetown and Basse Santa Su.
Administrative Regions: For administrative purposes, the country is divided into the capital territory (seat of Government), the adjoining Kombo St. Mary area and the provinces. The provinces are in turn divided into five divisions, each headed by a commissioner, with each division further subdivided into districts locally administered by head chiefs. The five divisions are (west to east) Western, North Bank, Lower River, MacCarty Island, Upper River (see administrative map below).
Population: 1,33 million, whereof 30,4% urban. 2,5% annual increase.
Population density: 107,6 persons/km2Infrastructure:
Paved roads: 950 km
Railways: none
Car park: 18.000 (1997)
Airports: 1 international airport (paved); Yundum (outside Banjul)
Telephones: 16 pr. 1000 persons (1/1000 mobile phones)
Radio: 154 pr. 1000 persons;
Television: 3 pr. 1000 personsPeople & Population
Peoples of The Gambia: The principal principal ethnic groups are the Wollof and the Mandinka the former living mainly in the capital city of Banjul, while the latter constitute the single largest people of The Gambia. These ethnic groups are reminiscent of the former Empire of the Wollof in the Senegambian Region and the famous Mandingo Empire of Mali and Songhai. In addition there are the traditionally pastoral Fula and the traditionally trading Sarahuleys. Another people, the Akus or Creoles, have traditionally been an important segment of the local elite. Further, there are some Mauritanians, Moroccans and Lebanese, mostly traders and shopkeepers. Each people speaks its own language, but English is commonly spoken as well as being the official language of the country. Most Gambians thus speak at least two-three languages.
There has not only been harmony between the different groups, but a fusion is taking place by cultural interaction and intermarriage. Actually, most Gambians feel more in common with fellow Gambians of another ethnicity than for example Senegalese of he same ethnicity. National identity is replacing ethnical identity, making The Gambia a melting pot of West African ethnic groups.
Ethnic composition: Mandinka 42%, Fula/Fulbe 18%, Wollof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%, non-African 1%.
Language: English (official), Mandinka, Wollof, Fulfulde and other local languages.Demographical dataTotal population: 1.330.000 (1999 est.)
Natural increase: 2,5% annual
Population projected to 2010: 1.745.000
Population density: 118 p/km2
Population under 15 years: 46%
Population over 65 years: 2%
Urbanization: 69,6% rural and 30,4% urban
Major cities: Serrekunda 110.000 inhabitants. Kerewan 100.000 inhabitants. inhabitants. Brikama 95.000 inhabitants, Banjul 45.000 inhabitants.SocietySocial dataLife expectancy: Men 52 years, women 57 years (1999 est.).
Infant mortality: 75,3/1.000 born (1999 est.).
Adult alphabetization rate: 33%
Medical services: 0.09 doctors each 1.000 inhabitants.
Pupil malnutrition rate: 41%
Access to potable water: 69%
Education expenditures: 11 mil. US$ (3% of GDP)
Military expenditures: 15 mil US$ (4% of GDP)
Religious data
The population is predominantly Muslim with more than 90% following Islam. The remaining 10% are mostly Christians of different denominations including Anglicans, Methodists, and Roman Catholics. The majority of Gambians are strict in their religious practices. There is, however, no fanaticism and amity prevails between religious and ethnic groups.
Data: Muslim 80,0%, African religions 11,2%, Christians 7,8%.Women
Domestic violence, including abuse, occasionally is reported, and its occurrence is believed to be fairly common. Police tend to consider these incidents to be domestic issues outside of their ordinary jurisdiction. Rape and assault are crimes under the law. The law does not differentiate between married and unmarried women in this regard. Laws generally are enforced. Neither sexual harassment nor de facto sexual discrimination are believed to be widespread.
Traditional views of women's roles result in extensive societal discrimination in education and employment. Families frequently educate male children before female children. Females constitute about 40 percent of primary school students and roughly 1/3 of high school students. Employment in the formal sector is open to women at the same salary rates as men. No statutory discrimination exists in other kinds of employment; however, women generally are employed in endeavors such as food vending or subsistence farming. The regime of Yahya Jammeh is said to have done much for women's participation in public and political life, and appointed women to several key posts on its seizure of power.
Shari'a law usually is applied in divorce and inheritance matters for the Muslim majority. Women normally receive a lower proportion of assets distributed through inheritance than do male relatives. Marriages often are arranged and, depending on the ethnic group, polygamy is practiced. Women in polygamous unions have property and other rights arising from the marriage. They have the option to divorce, but not a legal right to approve or be notified in advance of subsequent marriages.
Active women's rights groups exist, which are focused primarily on economic issues and the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is widespread, especially in the countryside. In the central areas, it is loosing ground, and religious leaders have been clear in pronouncing that FGM is not part of Muslim liturgy.
HistoryColonization: British Crown Colony in 1889.
Independence: February 18th 1965
Heads of state: Dawda K. Jawara (1965-94), Yahya Jammeh (1994-)
Population increase: 1948: 216.000. 1963: 316.000. 1983: 702.000. 1999: 1.336.000.
Short introduction to Gambian history:The banks of The River Gambia have been inhabited for thousands of years. It is assumed that between the 5th and 8th centuries most of the Senegambian area was populated by the Sarahuley ethnicity, and their descendants can still be found in The Gambia.
Being on the western edge of the Sudanese cultural (and climatic) zone, the peoples of Senegambia were heavily influenced by the various African empires emerging and vanishing over time, most notably the Ghana, Songhai and Mali empires and their offshoots.
The Wuli kingdom in the central Gambia river valley was a Mandinka offshoot of the Mali Empire, established in the 14th century. It was dependent upon slave trade and slavery based agricultural production, and persisted until Gambian independence. To the south and north two Fula empires, Futa Djallon and Futa Toro, were established in the late 18th century. Moreover, several small Mandinka and Wolof empires emerged and passed in response to European trade and as defense against slave raids. However, a great proportion of "Gambians" lived in more or less non-hierarchic societies before colonization.
The first African-European contacts in the region were established by the Portuguese in the 15th century. The contact was mainly in trade, which turned into predominantly slave trade. James Island on River Gambia became one of the regions principal slave ports.
Further, these early contacts brought new products and food staples to the region, such as the important groundnut.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, however, the British, which already had established themselves at James Island, became the dominant force on River Gambia, while the French focused on River Senegal and the Dakar peninsula (Cape Verde) in the north. Colonial control over The Gambia, comprising the island of Bathurst and the adjoining Kombo St. Mary area, was established about the 17th century. By about the mid-18th century, the rest of the country was declared a protectorate of the British crown and administered by a resident governor through. When the British abolished slave trading in 1807, James Island was used to check and stop the illicit traffic in slaves. The British moved their colonial administration to the newly founded Bathurst (now Banjul) in 1818, although The Gambia was administered as a crown colony from Sierra Leone between 1821 and 1892.
Internal self-government was attained in 1963 and full independent status confer-red on 18 February 1965. Five years later, The
Gambia adopted a Republican Constitution and became a sovereign republic within the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, The Gambia was ruled by one political party, the People's Progressive Party, led by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara until the coup d'état, in 1994, introducing a military government to The Gambia, led by captain Yahya Jammeh. (See politics).
The principal partner in Gambian foreign policy has been the surrounding neighbour Senegal. 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 this agreement was dissolved in September 1989 with the mutual consent of both partners. The two countries in general maintain cordial relationships, although Senegalese patience with President Jawara was low after the failure of the confederation. This was clearly demonstrated during the coup d'état in 1994, which was welcomed in Senegal (although not outspoken). During the rule of Jammeh, relationships have in general been good, with the Gambian president being an active part in the Casamance peace process.
However, economic cooperation has suffered due to the very different tax and import policies of Senegal and The Gambia, making re-exportation to Senegal a principal Gambian industry. This came to an end with Senegalese closure of the borders for Gambian goods in the 1990s.
Political situationThe Gambia is ruled by President Yahya A. Jammeh, the former chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) that seized power in a military coup in 1994, deposing a democratically elected government. Jammeh resigned his military commission and was elected president in September 1996. In January 1997, the Constitution of the Second Republic came into effect, restoring formal constitutional government, and citizens chose a National Assembly in elections, the results of which generally were accepted by the opposition.
The Gambia has a multi-party political system. The Constitution of the Second Republic of The Gambia provides for elections by universal adult suffrage to adults 18 and above through secret ballot to be held every five years to elect 45 candidates who constitute the country's National Assembly, complemented by 4 nominated members.
The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, the judiciary reportedly is subject at times to executive branch pressure, especially at lower levels, although the courts have demonstrated their independence on occasion. The judicial system is similar to those found in other countries with common law jurisdiction. There is only one system of courts, which form a hierarchy. The subordinate courts consist of Khadis' courts, district tribunals and magistrate courts. These courts have limited jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal matters. At the higher level are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, the latter being the highest court of appeal for the Gambia. Cases may be appealed successively from the lower to the higher courts in accordance with the procedure governing this process. Equality under the law is the most significant characteristic of the judicial system, when it is carried out according to its written intentions.The President
Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, a Jola, was born on 25th May 1965, in Kanilai village, Foni Kansala District in the Western Division. After high school, he joined what was then the Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1984 and later transferred to The Gambia National Army and was commissioned in 1989. He attended the Military Police Officers Basic Course in the United States and obtained a diploma in military science, in 1994.
At the time the Jawara regime was toppled, President Jammeh was a Lieutenant. In 1994, President Jammeh was promoted to the rank of Captain and in 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. President Jammeh retired from the army in 1996.
Jammeh on Friday July 22 1994 headed a group of young lieutenants (none over thirty) of the Gambian National Army in overthrowing the elected government of Dawda Jawara. The seizure of power was staged under cover of a Gambian-US joint military maneuver, and no blood was spilled. The coup d'état was that undramatic, that it took the population the whole day to realize what had taken place.
The group of young lieutenants were not driven by any ideology, but by a widespread discontent within and outside The Gambia with the inefficient government of Jawara, which had been in power for nearly 30 years. The group called itself The Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) and pronounced its seizure of power. The AFPRC quickly promised to "rid the country of rampant corruption, nepotism and abuse of office that was there for thirty years, and to bring about a new era of freedom, accountability, transparency, probity and equal justice for all Gambians." They assured the Gambians that they would never "introduce dictatorship in the country," adding that they were "soldiers with a difference".
Gambians assumed a wait-and-see position to Jammeh and his AFPRC, as Jawara's government had lost much of its legitimacy and most people could agree to some of Jammeh's critics. There was indeed felt a need for renewal. Jammeh's public statements in his first six months of power did not reassure the Gambians, nor the international community, that he bore democracy in mind or that he was fitted to "rid the country off" its problems. However, with time the new government matured and a timetable for return to civil government was presented. Opposition was re-allowed and the confidence returned slowly.In 1996 he stood for election, and won. There is not much information available as to the private life of President Jammeh. His official bibliography however informs that Jammeh is "President Jammeh is happily married to Mrs. Tuti Faal-Jammeh," and that his hobbies and interests include "reading, playing tennis, soccer, driving, hunting, riding motor-bikes, watching movies, listening to music," and that he "is a keen lover of animals."Elections
Four political parties contested in the September 1996 Presidential elections. The Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) candidate Yahya Jammeh won 56% of the votes while Mr. Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) received 36%. The candidates of The National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) shared the remaining votes. Yahya Jammeh was sworn in as first President of the Second Republic of The Gambia on October18, 1996. National Assembly elections were held in January 1997. The APRC won 33 seats, the UDP 7 seats, the NRP 2 seats, the PDOIS 1 seat and independents 2 seats. In addition, 4 more members, among whom the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, were nominated by President Jammeh, bringing the total number of National Assembly members to 49.EconomyOverview
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. Re-export 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 re-export 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 as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.National economyGDP: 400 million US$
GDP per capita: ca 330 US$ (1998)
GDP growth rate: 5.0% (1999 est.)
GDP divided in sectors: Agriculture 30%; Industry 15%; Services 55% (1999 est.).
Labor force by occupation: Agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%.
Export values: 191 million US$ (goods and services, 1999).
Commodities: Groundnuts and groundnut products, fish, cotton lint and palm kernels.
Main clients: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France (1997).
Import values: 248 million US$ (goods and services, 1999).
Commodities: Food, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment.
Main suppliers: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Netherlands (1997).
Military expenditures: 15 million US$, 4% of GDP.FinancesMoney: Dalasi
Foreign dept: 430 million US$ (1999 est.)
Foreign debt in % of GDP: 107,6
Dept repayments: 32 million US$
Economic aid receipt: 45.4 million US$ (1995)
Trade: The Gambia has a liberal trade policy and companies and individuals are free to engage in barter and countertrade.
However, barter and countertrade items entering the country must pay customs duties consistent with the tariff.IndustriesIntroduction: The rapidly growing population of 1.3 million is divided between a rural majority and a growing urban minority. Much of the population is engaged in subsistence farming. The country's farmers, a majority of whom are women, grow rice, millet, corn, and groundnuts (the country's primary export crop). The private sector, led by tourism, trading, and fisheries, is experiencing modest growth. However, a high population growth rate has diluted the positive effects of economic expansion. Per capita gross domestic product is estimated to be $360.
Agricultural production: Groundnuts (85.000 tons), millet, sorghum, rice, cotton, palm kernels.
Livestock: Cattle (340.000), sheep (167.000), goats 191.000), horses (17.000), donkeys (43.000), poultry (550.000). Numbers are from 1991, low after a drought season.
Fisheries: 31.500 tons (1996)
Mining: None.
Industry: Oils (local basis).
Tourism: 77.000 visitors annually (2002).The Gambia - administrative map
West Africa:
Please see below..., there is The Gambia- Administrative map!
Surrunded by Senegal, with a 50 miles coast lines, this is Africa's smallest country. The Gambia river flanked by mangrooves & low hills, flow from East to West into North Atilantic Ocean.
Gambia's climate is tropical with two distinct wet and dry season.
Though Gambia is small it offers wide variety of places offering tourist excursions & attractions!
Weather
Although the months of heaviest rainfall are August and Sebtember,
we find that most rain occured at night and has not destracted from the enjoyment of your holiday. Nevertheless, a lightweight rain umbrella may be useful in these months.
Between January and May evenings and mornings can be cooler than people expect. For those planning to travel inland away from the coast and the benefit of the sea breeze, it's important to note that temperatures during the summer can reach 42 degrees.The Gambia enjoy the virtually uninterrupted sunshine and high daytime temperatures with almost rainfall from November to June. From July to October the humidity level is high as the tropical sun will be puntuated by short but spectacular rain storms.
Languages & cultures
The Gambia is former Bristish colony and the official language is English but their are several tribal languages including Mandinka, Serahule, Fula, Jola, Wolof, etc.
The people of Gambia are friendly and hospitable and life is taken at a very relaxed place.
To accept this is essential, after all you will be on holiday.
The most common Gambian dishes are Benechin (rice & vegetables) or
Domoda (meat, stewed in groundnut butter and served with rice).
Transportation
The is no railway and the only public transport are Buses & Taxes which cover the main route and some Bush roads, but do not run to a schedule. They are cheap and very over-crowded but a great way of obsorbing the local flavour. Car hire is also available but a bit expensive.
GeographyLocation: West Africa, at the mouth of River Gambia into the Atlantic Ocean (west), surrounded by Senegal. See map.
Capital: Banjul(former Bathurst)
Surface: 11.295 km2 (there of 1.300 km2 water)
Coastline: 80 km
Climate: Tropical savannah climate with a hot rainy season (June to November) and a cooler dry season (November to May).
Natural hazards: Rainfall has dropped some 30% over the last 30 years.
Regions: 1 city (Banjul) and 5 divisions: Lower River, McCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western Division.
Land use: Arable land (18%), permanent pastures (9%), forests and woodland (28%), other (45%) (1993 est.). The patterns of land use in The Gambia are related to the different vegetation zones. These again depend heavily on the fluvial influence and soil conditions, as the climatic conditions are relatively homogeneous all over the country.
Cities: The main urban agglomeration is the Kombo St. Mary area west and south of Banjul, including the suburban town of Serrekunda. The countries second town, Brikama, lies to the south but the urban zones of Serrekunda and Brikama are almost connected. Banjul, the capital situated at the mouth of River Gambia, is loosing its importance to boomtowns like Serrekunda and Brikama. Further inland, the transit towns of Kerewan and Farafenni are growing on the cost of the earlier riverine centers of Georgetown and Basse Santa Su.
Administrative Regions: For administrative purposes, the country is divided into the capital territory (seat of Government), the adjoining Kombo St. Mary area and the provinces. The provinces are in turn divided into five divisions, each headed by a commissioner, with each division further subdivided into districts locally administered by head chiefs. The five divisions are (west to east) Western, North Bank, Lower River, MacCarty Island, Upper River (see administrative map below).
Population: 1,33 million, whereof 30,4% urban. 2,5% annual increase.
Population density: 107,6 persons/km2Infrastructure:
Paved roads: 950 km
Railways: none
Car park: 18.000 (1997)
Airports: 1 international airport (paved); Yundum (outside Banjul)
Telephones: 16 pr. 1000 persons (1/1000 mobile phones)
Radio: 154 pr. 1000 persons;
Television: 3 pr. 1000 personsPeople & Population
Peoples of The Gambia: The principal principal ethnic groups are the Wollof and the Mandinka the former living mainly in the capital city of Banjul, while the latter constitute the single largest people of The Gambia. These ethnic groups are reminiscent of the former Empire of the Wollof in the Senegambian Region and the famous Mandingo Empire of Mali and Songhai. In addition there are the traditionally pastoral Fula and the traditionally trading Sarahuleys. Another people, the Akus or Creoles, have traditionally been an important segment of the local elite. Further, there are some Mauritanians, Moroccans and Lebanese, mostly traders and shopkeepers. Each people speaks its own language, but English is commonly spoken as well as being the official language of the country. Most Gambians thus speak at least two-three languages.
There has not only been harmony between the different groups, but a fusion is taking place by cultural interaction and intermarriage. Actually, most Gambians feel more in common with fellow Gambians of another ethnicity than for example Senegalese of he same ethnicity. National identity is replacing ethnical identity, making The Gambia a melting pot of West African ethnic groups.
Ethnic composition: Mandinka 42%, Fula/Fulbe 18%, Wollof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%, non-African 1%.
Language: English (official), Mandinka, Wollof, Fulfulde and other local languages.Demographical dataTotal population: 1.330.000 (1999 est.)
Natural increase: 2,5% annual
Population projected to 2010: 1.745.000
Population density: 118 p/km2
Population under 15 years: 46%
Population over 65 years: 2%
Urbanization: 69,6% rural and 30,4% urban
Major cities: Serrekunda 110.000 inhabitants. Kerewan 100.000 inhabitants. inhabitants. Brikama 95.000 inhabitants, Banjul 45.000 inhabitants.SocietySocial dataLife expectancy: Men 52 years, women 57 years (1999 est.).
Infant mortality: 75,3/1.000 born (1999 est.).
Adult alphabetization rate: 33%
Medical services: 0.09 doctors each 1.000 inhabitants.
Pupil malnutrition rate: 41%
Access to potable water: 69%
Education expenditures: 11 mil. US$ (3% of GDP)
Military expenditures: 15 mil US$ (4% of GDP)
Religious data
The population is predominantly Muslim with more than 90% following Islam. The remaining 10% are mostly Christians of different denominations including Anglicans, Methodists, and Roman Catholics. The majority of Gambians are strict in their religious practices. There is, however, no fanaticism and amity prevails between religious and ethnic groups.
Data: Muslim 80,0%, African religions 11,2%, Christians 7,8%.Women
Domestic violence, including abuse, occasionally is reported, and its occurrence is believed to be fairly common. Police tend to consider these incidents to be domestic issues outside of their ordinary jurisdiction. Rape and assault are crimes under the law. The law does not differentiate between married and unmarried women in this regard. Laws generally are enforced. Neither sexual harassment nor de facto sexual discrimination are believed to be widespread.
Traditional views of women's roles result in extensive societal discrimination in education and employment. Families frequently educate male children before female children. Females constitute about 40 percent of primary school students and roughly 1/3 of high school students. Employment in the formal sector is open to women at the same salary rates as men. No statutory discrimination exists in other kinds of employment; however, women generally are employed in endeavors such as food vending or subsistence farming. The regime of Yahya Jammeh is said to have done much for women's participation in public and political life, and appointed women to several key posts on its seizure of power.
Shari'a law usually is applied in divorce and inheritance matters for the Muslim majority. Women normally receive a lower proportion of assets distributed through inheritance than do male relatives. Marriages often are arranged and, depending on the ethnic group, polygamy is practiced. Women in polygamous unions have property and other rights arising from the marriage. They have the option to divorce, but not a legal right to approve or be notified in advance of subsequent marriages.
Active women's rights groups exist, which are focused primarily on economic issues and the elimination of female genital mutilation (FGM). FGM is widespread, especially in the countryside. In the central areas, it is loosing ground, and religious leaders have been clear in pronouncing that FGM is not part of Muslim liturgy.
HistoryColonization: British Crown Colony in 1889.
Independence: February 18th 1965
Heads of state: Dawda K. Jawara (1965-94), Yahya Jammeh (1994-)
Population increase: 1948: 216.000. 1963: 316.000. 1983: 702.000. 1999: 1.336.000.
Short introduction to Gambian history:The banks of The River Gambia have been inhabited for thousands of years. It is assumed that between the 5th and 8th centuries most of the Senegambian area was populated by the Sarahuley ethnicity, and their descendants can still be found in The Gambia.
Being on the western edge of the Sudanese cultural (and climatic) zone, the peoples of Senegambia were heavily influenced by the various African empires emerging and vanishing over time, most notably the Ghana, Songhai and Mali empires and their offshoots.
The Wuli kingdom in the central Gambia river valley was a Mandinka offshoot of the Mali Empire, established in the 14th century. It was dependent upon slave trade and slavery based agricultural production, and persisted until Gambian independence. To the south and north two Fula empires, Futa Djallon and Futa Toro, were established in the late 18th century. Moreover, several small Mandinka and Wolof empires emerged and passed in response to European trade and as defense against slave raids. However, a great proportion of "Gambians" lived in more or less non-hierarchic societies before colonization.
The first African-European contacts in the region were established by the Portuguese in the 15th century. The contact was mainly in trade, which turned into predominantly slave trade. James Island on River Gambia became one of the regions principal slave ports.
Further, these early contacts brought new products and food staples to the region, such as the important groundnut.
During the 18th and 19th centuries, however, the British, which already had established themselves at James Island, became the dominant force on River Gambia, while the French focused on River Senegal and the Dakar peninsula (Cape Verde) in the north. Colonial control over The Gambia, comprising the island of Bathurst and the adjoining Kombo St. Mary area, was established about the 17th century. By about the mid-18th century, the rest of the country was declared a protectorate of the British crown and administered by a resident governor through. When the British abolished slave trading in 1807, James Island was used to check and stop the illicit traffic in slaves. The British moved their colonial administration to the newly founded Bathurst (now Banjul) in 1818, although The Gambia was administered as a crown colony from Sierra Leone between 1821 and 1892.
Internal self-government was attained in 1963 and full independent status confer-red on 18 February 1965. Five years later, The
Gambia adopted a Republican Constitution and became a sovereign republic within the British Commonwealth of Nations.
Since independence, The Gambia was ruled by one political party, the People's Progressive Party, led by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara until the coup d'état, in 1994, introducing a military government to The Gambia, led by captain Yahya Jammeh. (See politics).
The principal partner in Gambian foreign policy has been the surrounding neighbour Senegal. 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 this agreement was dissolved in September 1989 with the mutual consent of both partners. The two countries in general maintain cordial relationships, although Senegalese patience with President Jawara was low after the failure of the confederation. This was clearly demonstrated during the coup d'état in 1994, which was welcomed in Senegal (although not outspoken). During the rule of Jammeh, relationships have in general been good, with the Gambian president being an active part in the Casamance peace process.
However, economic cooperation has suffered due to the very different tax and import policies of Senegal and The Gambia, making re-exportation to Senegal a principal Gambian industry. This came to an end with Senegalese closure of the borders for Gambian goods in the 1990s.
Political situationThe Gambia is ruled by President Yahya A. Jammeh, the former chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) that seized power in a military coup in 1994, deposing a democratically elected government. Jammeh resigned his military commission and was elected president in September 1996. In January 1997, the Constitution of the Second Republic came into effect, restoring formal constitutional government, and citizens chose a National Assembly in elections, the results of which generally were accepted by the opposition.
The Gambia has a multi-party political system. The Constitution of the Second Republic of The Gambia provides for elections by universal adult suffrage to adults 18 and above through secret ballot to be held every five years to elect 45 candidates who constitute the country's National Assembly, complemented by 4 nominated members.
The Constitution provides for an independent judiciary; however, the judiciary reportedly is subject at times to executive branch pressure, especially at lower levels, although the courts have demonstrated their independence on occasion. The judicial system is similar to those found in other countries with common law jurisdiction. There is only one system of courts, which form a hierarchy. The subordinate courts consist of Khadis' courts, district tribunals and magistrate courts. These courts have limited jurisdiction to hear both civil and criminal matters. At the higher level are the Supreme Court, the Court of Appeal and the Privy Council, the latter being the highest court of appeal for the Gambia. Cases may be appealed successively from the lower to the higher courts in accordance with the procedure governing this process. Equality under the law is the most significant characteristic of the judicial system, when it is carried out according to its written intentions.The President
Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, a Jola, was born on 25th May 1965, in Kanilai village, Foni Kansala District in the Western Division. After high school, he joined what was then the Gambia National Gendarmerie in 1984 and later transferred to The Gambia National Army and was commissioned in 1989. He attended the Military Police Officers Basic Course in the United States and obtained a diploma in military science, in 1994.
At the time the Jawara regime was toppled, President Jammeh was a Lieutenant. In 1994, President Jammeh was promoted to the rank of Captain and in 1996 he was promoted to the rank of Colonel. President Jammeh retired from the army in 1996.
Jammeh on Friday July 22 1994 headed a group of young lieutenants (none over thirty) of the Gambian National Army in overthrowing the elected government of Dawda Jawara. The seizure of power was staged under cover of a Gambian-US joint military maneuver, and no blood was spilled. The coup d'état was that undramatic, that it took the population the whole day to realize what had taken place.
The group of young lieutenants were not driven by any ideology, but by a widespread discontent within and outside The Gambia with the inefficient government of Jawara, which had been in power for nearly 30 years. The group called itself The Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) and pronounced its seizure of power. The AFPRC quickly promised to "rid the country of rampant corruption, nepotism and abuse of office that was there for thirty years, and to bring about a new era of freedom, accountability, transparency, probity and equal justice for all Gambians." They assured the Gambians that they would never "introduce dictatorship in the country," adding that they were "soldiers with a difference".
Gambians assumed a wait-and-see position to Jammeh and his AFPRC, as Jawara's government had lost much of its legitimacy and most people could agree to some of Jammeh's critics. There was indeed felt a need for renewal. Jammeh's public statements in his first six months of power did not reassure the Gambians, nor the international community, that he bore democracy in mind or that he was fitted to "rid the country off" its problems. However, with time the new government matured and a timetable for return to civil government was presented. Opposition was re-allowed and the confidence returned slowly.In 1996 he stood for election, and won. There is not much information available as to the private life of President Jammeh. His official bibliography however informs that Jammeh is "President Jammeh is happily married to Mrs. Tuti Faal-Jammeh," and that his hobbies and interests include "reading, playing tennis, soccer, driving, hunting, riding motor-bikes, watching movies, listening to music," and that he "is a keen lover of animals."Elections
Four political parties contested in the September 1996 Presidential elections. The Alliance for Patriotic Re-Orientation and Construction (APRC) candidate Yahya Jammeh won 56% of the votes while Mr. Ousainou Darboe of the United Democratic Party (UDP) received 36%. The candidates of The National Reconciliation Party (NRP) and the People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) shared the remaining votes. Yahya Jammeh was sworn in as first President of the Second Republic of The Gambia on October18, 1996. National Assembly elections were held in January 1997. The APRC won 33 seats, the UDP 7 seats, the NRP 2 seats, the PDOIS 1 seat and independents 2 seats. In addition, 4 more members, among whom the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, were nominated by President Jammeh, bringing the total number of National Assembly members to 49.EconomyOverview
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. Re-export 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 re-export 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 as forwarded by IMF technical help and advice.National economyGDP: 400 million US$
GDP per capita: ca 330 US$ (1998)
GDP growth rate: 5.0% (1999 est.)
GDP divided in sectors: Agriculture 30%; Industry 15%; Services 55% (1999 est.).
Labor force by occupation: Agriculture 75%, industry, commerce, and services 19%, government 6%.
Export values: 191 million US$ (goods and services, 1999).
Commodities: Groundnuts and groundnut products, fish, cotton lint and palm kernels.
Main clients: Belgium, Japan, Senegal, Hong Kong, France (1997).
Import values: 248 million US$ (goods and services, 1999).
Commodities: Food, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport equipment.
Main suppliers: Cote d'Ivoire, Hong Kong, UK, Germany, Netherlands (1997).
Military expenditures: 15 million US$, 4% of GDP.FinancesMoney: Dalasi
Foreign dept: 430 million US$ (1999 est.)
Foreign debt in % of GDP: 107,6
Dept repayments: 32 million US$
Economic aid receipt: 45.4 million US$ (1995)
Trade: The Gambia has a liberal trade policy and companies and individuals are free to engage in barter and countertrade.
However, barter and countertrade items entering the country must pay customs duties consistent with the tariff.IndustriesIntroduction: The rapidly growing population of 1.3 million is divided between a rural majority and a growing urban minority. Much of the population is engaged in subsistence farming. The country's farmers, a majority of whom are women, grow rice, millet, corn, and groundnuts (the country's primary export crop). The private sector, led by tourism, trading, and fisheries, is experiencing modest growth. However, a high population growth rate has diluted the positive effects of economic expansion. Per capita gross domestic product is estimated to be $360.
Agricultural production: Groundnuts (85.000 tons), millet, sorghum, rice, cotton, palm kernels.
Livestock: Cattle (340.000), sheep (167.000), goats 191.000), horses (17.000), donkeys (43.000), poultry (550.000). Numbers are from 1991, low after a drought season.
Fisheries: 31.500 tons (1996)
Mining: None.
Industry: Oils (local basis).
Tourism: 77.000 visitors annually (2002).The Gambia - administrative map