Gambia. Republic of Gambia
A country in West Africa on the Atlantic Ocean coast. Area — 11.3 thousand km². Capital - Banjul (271 thousand including suburbs). Administrative division - 6 regions. Population — 1.4 million (2003);
Mandinka, Fula, Wolof, Diola, and others. Official language - English. Religion: 85% - Muslims, 4% - Christians, the rest adhere to traditional local beliefs. Currency - dalasi = 100 bututs.
It has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established with the USSR on July 17, 1965).
National holiday - February 18 - Independence Day (1965).
Gambia is a presidential republic. The constitution of 1996 is in effect. The head of state is President Yahya Jammeh (re-elected in October 2001). He is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Elected by popular vote for a term of 5 years. The legislative body - the National Assembly (49 deputies), elected for a term of 5 years. The executive power is exercised by the government, headed by the vice president.
According to the Treaty of Versailles of 1783, most of Gambia was ceded to England, whose colonization was finally completed in 1902, when a British protectorate was established over the interior regions of its territory. In 1963, Gambia gained internal self-government, and in 1965 it was proclaimed an independent state within the British Commonwealth. On April 24, 1970, as a result of a referendum, it became a republic.
The first president of Gambia since the proclamation of the republic was Dawda Kairaba Jawara (until 1994). On July 23, 1994, as a result of a bloodless coup, the military came to power in the country, led by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh - chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (head of state). A new cabinet of ministers was formed.
In October 1994, the new Gambian leadership developed a program for the country's transition to civilian rule. In August 1996, a new constitution was approved in a referendum. In September 1996, the Provisional Ruling Council was dissolved, and presidential elections were held. The transition period ended in January 1997 after the election of a new parliament.
Political parties: Alliance for Patriotic Orientation and Construction (pro-presidential party), leader - Yahya Jammeh, United Democratic Party, People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism, National Reconciliation Party, People's Progressive Party, Gambia People's Party, National Convention Party, National Democratic Action Movement, Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress.
Trade union association - Gambia Labour Congress (founded in 1935).
Gambia is a member of the UN (since 1965), African Union (AU), OIC, ECOWAS, Commonwealth led by the United Kingdom.
Gambia is an agrarian, economically underdeveloped country with a monocultural economy. The share of agriculture in GDP is 36.7%, and about 75% of the working population is employed in the agricultural sector. The main agricultural crop is peanuts (over 100 thousand tons), which is the main source of foreign currency (40% of export value). Grain production amounts to over 100 thousand tons per year (maize, rice, millet, and others). Approximately 40 thousand tons of fish are caught annually.
Industry (14% of GDP) is poorly developed and represented by small and medium-sized businesses. There are enterprises producing building materials, beer, and soft drinks, as well as peanut cleaning and processing. Handicrafts are well developed - leather processing, pottery, and others. The country has reserves of titanium-iron sands (1 million tons), high-quality clay, and quartz sand; deposits of natural gas and oil have been discovered.
The service sector accounts for 2/3 of GDP. Tourism is rapidly developing, providing about 16% of GDP, bringing in hard currency to the country.
The standard of living of the population is low. GDP per capita is about $330 per year. The country has a relatively high population growth rate - 2.77% per year and one of the highest population density rates in Africa - 128 people per km².
The road network is over 3 thousand km, including about 1 thousand km of paved roads. Most cargo transportation is carried out by water along the Gambia River. The main sea and river port of the country is Banjul. The international airport Yundum is located 27 km from the capital.
Print media: newspapers "Gambia Daily," "Gazette," "Independent," "Daily Observer," "Point," "Foroyaa"; magazine "Gambia News and Report Magazine." The country has state television and radio, and there is a private radio company "Radio-1FM."