Country	Gambia
Capital	Banjul
Continent	Africa
Currency	Dalasi(GMD)
Languages	English, Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Serer & Jola

Locaion

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Geographic Co ordinates

13 28 N, 16 34 W

Land Boundries

Total:740 km
Border countries:Senegal 740 km

Geography - note

almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa

Population

1,824,158 (July 2010 est.)
Country comparison to the world:147

Nationality

Noun:Gambian(s)
Adjective:Gambian

Ethnic groups

African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other 4%), non-African 1% (2003 census)

Religions

Muslim 90%, Christian 8%, indigenous beliefs 2%

Languages

English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars

Country Name

Conventional long form:Republic of The Gambia
Conventional short form:The Gambia

Government Type

republic

Capital

Name:Banjul
Geographic coordinates:13 27 N, 16 34 W
Time difference:UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence

18 February 1965 (from the UK)

National Holiday

Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution

approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997

Legal system

based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

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); Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997)
Cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president
(For more information visit the World Leaders website)
Elections:president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held on 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)
Election results:Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6%

Legislative branch

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members to serve five-year terms)
Elections:last held on 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)
Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

Judicial branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties and Leaders

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH] (the ruling party); Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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 [Halifa SALLAH]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]

Political pressure groups and leaders

National Environment Agency or NEA; West African Peace Building Network-Gambian Chapter or WANEB-GAMBIA; Youth Employment Network Gambia or YENGambia
Other:special needs group advocates; teachers and principals

International organization participation

ABEDA, ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador (vacant); Charge d'Affaires Embrima J. KUJABI
Chancery:Suite 600, 1424 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
Telephone:[1] (202) 785-1379, 1399, 1425
FAX:[1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation from the US

Chief of mission:Ambassador Barry L. WELLS
Embassy:Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul
Mailing address:P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
Telephone:[220] 439-2856, 437-6169, 437-6170
FAX:[220] 439-2475

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green

Video

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