Gambia Embassy

1,925,527 (July 2014 est.)

Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and Senegal

Africa

BANJUL (capital) 506,000 (2011)

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

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

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

The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965. Geographically surrounded by Senegal, it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty, but tensions have flared up intermittently since then. Yahya JAMMEH led a military coup in 1994 that overthrew the president and banned political activity. A new constitution and presidential elections in 1996, followed by parliamentary balloting in 1997, completed a nominal return to civilian rule. JAMMEH has been elected president in all subsequent elections including most recently in late 2011.

80 km

tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May)

flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills

fish, clay, silica sand, titanium (rutile and ilmenite), tin, zircon