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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.
Republic of The Gambia
|
|
| 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
- Total
- Density | Ranked 145th
1,367,124 (July 2000 est.)
121/km² |
| Independence
- Date
| From the United Kingdom
February 18, 1965
|
| Currency | Dalasi (D) |
| Time zone | UTC |
| National anthem | For The Gambia, Our Homeland |
| Internet TLD | .GM |
| Calling Code | 220 |
History
Main 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.
Politics
Main article: Politics of The Gambia
Subdivisions
The Gambia is divided into eight subdivisions:
Geography
Main article: Geography of The Gambia
Economy
Main article: Economy of The Gambia
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of The Gambia
Culture
Main article: Culture of The Gambia
Miscellaneous topics
External links and references
- Much of the information presented here comes from the CIA World Factbook 2000 and the 2002 U.S. Department of State webiste.
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