|
| Country name: |
conventional long form:
Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form:
The Gambia
|
| Government type: |
republic under multiparty democratic rule
|
| Administrative divisions: |
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower River, Central River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
|
| Independence: |
18 February 1965 (from UK)
|
| National holiday: |
Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
|
| Constitution: |
24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997
|
| Legal system: |
based on a composite of English common law, Koranic 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); 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); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
cabinet:
Cabinet is appointed by the president
elections:
the president is elected by popular vote for a five-year term; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 26 September 1996 (next to be held NA October 2001)
election results:
Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH elected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 55.8%, Ousainou DARBOE 35.8%
|
| Legislative branch: |
unicameral National Assembly (49 seats; 45 elected by popular vote, 4 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
elections:
last popular election held 2 January 1997 (next to be held NA January 2002)
election results:
percent of vote by party - NA%; seats by party - APRC 33, UDP 7, NRP 2, PDOIS 1, independents 2
|
| Judicial branch: |
Supreme Court
|
| Political parties and leaders: |
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
note:
in August 1996 the government banned the following from participation in the elections of 1996: People's Progressive Party or PPP [former President Dawda K. JAWARA (in exile)], and two opposition parties - the National Convention Party or NCP [former Vice President Sheriff DIBBA] and the Gambian People's Party or GPP [Hassan Musa CAMARA]
|
| Political pressure groups and leaders: |
NA
|
| International organization participation: |
ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAU, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
|
| Diplomatic representation in the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador John P. BOJANG
chancery:
Suite 1000, 1155 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
telephone:
[1] (202) 785-1399
FAX:
[1] (202) 785-1430
|
| Diplomatic representation from the US: |
chief of mission:
Ambassador George W. B. HALEY
embassy:
Fajara, Kairaba Avenue, Banjul
mailing address:
P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
telephone:
[220] 392856, 392858, 391970, 391971
FAX:
[220] 392475
|
| Flag description: |
three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
|
|
|
|
