Gambia Travel Guide and Holiday Information
Until the military took over The Gambia’s government
in a bloodless coup in 1994, the country was governed by
a 1970 constitution. Under military President Yahya Jammeh,
a new constitution was approved by public referendum in
August 1996 and came into effect in January 1997.
Under this constitution a popularly elected president serves
as head of state for a five-year term.
The Gambian president may serve an unlimited number of
terms. The country’s legislative body is the unicameral
National Assembly. Forty-eight of the legislature’s
53 members are popularly elected to five-year terms; the
other 5 are appointed by the president.
In Gambia's parliamentary elections held in January 2002,
45 out of 48 elected seats went to members of Jammeh’s
political party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorganization
and Cooperation (APRC).
The Gambia's judicial system consists of a supreme court
with unlimited jurisdiction, an appeal court, and subordinate
magistrate and divisional courts. Civil actions between
Muslim citizens are handled by special Muslim courts. Minor
civil and criminal cases are tried in group tribunals.
Introduction to The Gambia
The Gambia, a republic within the Commonwealth
of Nations, situated on the western coast of Africa, enclosed
on the north, east, and south by Senegal, and fronting the
Atlantic Ocean on the west. Also called Gambia, it has an
area of 11,295 sq km (4,361 sq mi). Banjul is the capital.
The Government of The Gambia is strongly committed to private
sector empowerment and the creation of an enabling environment
to stimulate private investment in the country. These we
are doing through the combined use of sound macro-economic
and financial programs on the one hand, and complementary
social sector interventions on the other, all with a view
to ensure more confidence in the economy and The Gambia
as a safe haven for investment.
The Gambia River is navigable for about 190 km (about 120
mi) from the Atlantic Ocean by small oceangoing vessels.
There are 2,700 km (1,678 mi) of roads; the construction
of a major road south of the river has reduced the importance
of the river as a major artery of transportation. The country
has no railroads. An international airport is located at
Yundum, near Banjul.
Broadcasters include government-operated Radio Gambia and
commercial stations such as West Coast Radio.
Land and Resources of The Gambia
The Gambia extends for about 320 km (200 mi) inland from
the Atlantic Ocean on both sides of the lower Gambia River.
It is only about 50 km (30 mi) wide at its widest point.
The river is lined with mangrove swamps.
Climate of The Gambia
The Gambia has a subtropical climate with distinct hot
and cool seasons. During the cool season, from November
to May, the harmattan, a hot, dry, dusty wind, blows from
the Sahara. Temperatures range from 16°C (60°F)
in winter to 43°C (110°F) in summer. The rainy season
lasts from June to October. The average annual rainfall
is about 1,020 mm (about 40 in).
Natural Resources of The Gambia
The main natural resource of The Gambia is the Gambia River,
one of Africa’s best navigable waterways. The country’s
soil is mostly poor and sandy, except in the riverine swamps,
but is ideally suited for the cultivation of peanuts, upon
which the economy depends. Fish are increasing in economic
importance, and seismic surveys have indicated the possibility
that petroleum exists.
Plants and Animals of The Gambia
In The Gambia, the mangrove, oil palm, and rubber vine
grow in profusion, and cedar and mahogany trees abound.
Wildlife includes leopard, wild boar, crocodile, hippopotamus,
and several species of antelope. Such game birds as the
guinea fowl and sand grouse are plentiful.
Environmental Issues in The Gambia
The Gambia has lost 91 percent of its original forest habitat,
which has been cleared for agriculture and fuelwood. As
a result, many of the big-game animals have been destroyed,
although some protected areas have been established. With
government incentives encouraging growth in the number of
fishing companies, overfishing has emerged as a problem.
Saltwater has intruded farther upriver, causing agricultural
lands to become saline. Desertification has increased.
Population of The Gambia
A wide variety of ethnic groups live side by side in The
Gambia while preserving individual languages and traditions.
The population comprises the Mandinka (also known as Mandingo
or Malinke), the largest ethnic group (representing about
42 percent of Gambia’s inhabitants); the Fulani (about
18 percent), who predominate in the eastern part of the
country; the Wolof (about 16 percent), who live mainly in
Banjul and the western region; the Jola (about 10 percent),
who live in the western region; the Serahuli (about 9 percent),
whose rulers introduced Islam into the region in the 12th
century and who are primarily traders and nomads; and the
small Aku community, partly descended from liberated slaves.
In 2000, 32 percent of the population lived in urban areas.
Population Characteristics in The Gambia
The population of The Gambia (2002 estimate) is 1,455,842,
making it one of the least populous countries of Africa.
Still, the country has an overall population density of
129 persons per sq km (334 per sq mi), and the population
is increasing at a rate of 3.1 percent a year. Banjul, formerly
called Bathurst, is the capital and only seaport. The largest
city is Serrekunda.
Religion and Language in The Gambia
About 90 percent of the people of The Gambia are Muslim;
9 percent are Christian; and 1 percent follow traditional
religions. English is the official language, but each ethnic
group has its own language.
Education in The Gambia
Primary education in The Gambia is free but not compulsory.
In the 1998-1999 school year 150,400 children were enrolled
in primary school (81 percent of this age group), while
47,100 were enrolled in a secondary school (31 percent of
secondary school-aged children).
The country’s institutions of higher education include
The Gambia College, in Bríkama, and several technical
and training schools.
Agriculture and Fishing in The Gambia
Some 82 percent of the working population of The Gambia
is engaged in agriculture. Rice and millet, as well as cattle,
sheep, goats, and poultry, are raised for local consumption.
Peanuts are grown primarily for export; the crop amounted
to 126,000 metric tons in 2001.
The sale of peanuts and peanut products accounted for about
three-quarters of total yearly domestic exports by value
in the 1990s.
The government has introduced the raising of cotton, sisal,
citrus fruits, and tobacco to diversify agricultural production.
The coastal villages engage in fishing.
In 1997 the fish catch was 32,258 metric tons, mostly from
marine waters.
Manufacturing, Currency, and Trade in The Gambia
Manufacturing in The Gambia is limited mainly to the processing
of peanuts and other primary products and to the building
of fishing boats.
Other manufactures include beverages, clothing, footwear,
and handicrafts. The country’s unit of currency, adopted
in 1971, is the dalasi (12.79 dalasi equal U.S.$1; 2000
average), consisting of 100 butut; it is issued by the Central
Bank of The Gambia (1971).
The cost of The Gambia’s yearly imports is usually
much more than its export earnings; in 2000 imports totaled
$210 million and exports were valued at $9 million.
The main trading partners for exports were Japan, Belgium
and Luxembourg, Senegal, Guinea, France, and the United
States; principal partners for imports were the China, Côte
d’Ivoire, Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Germany, Senegal,
Thailand, and the United States.
The Gambia’s tourist industry is a growing source
of foreign exchange; the country hosted 91,000 visitors
in 1998.
