U.S. Department of State Background Notes: The Gambia, July 1996 Bureau of African Affairs Prepared and released by the Bureau of African Affairs, Office of West African Affairs Official Name: Republic of The Gambia PROFILE Geography Area: 11,300 sq. km. (4,361 sq. mi.) slightly more than twice the size of Delaware. Cities: Capital--Banjul (pop. 42,326). Terrain: Flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by low hills. Climate: Tropical; hot rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November to May). People Nationality: Noun and adjective--Gambian(s). Population (1993 est.): 1.014 million. Annual growth rate (1993 est.): 4.1 percent. Ethnic groups: Mandinka 42 percent, Fula 18 percent, Wolof 16 percent, Jola 10 percent, Serahuli 9 percent, other 4 percent, non- Gambian 1 percent. Religions: Muslim 90 percent, Christian 9 percent, and animist 1 percent. Languages: English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous languages. Education: Years compulsory--none. Attendance--68.7 percent primary, 20 percent secondary. Literacy--25 percent. Health: Infant mortality rate--85/1,000. Life expectancy--men 47 yrs., women 51 yrs. Work force: 400,000. Agriculture--75 percent, Industry, commerce, and services--19 percent, Government--7 percent. Government Type: Military. Independence: February 18, 1965. Constitution: April 24, 1970 (suspended after July 1994). Branches: Parliament suspended since July 1994, court system functioning but country ruled primarily through government decree. Subdivisions: capital and 5 divisions. Political parties: currently banned. Flag: three horizontal bands of red, blue, and green, with blue center bordered by two white stripes. Economy GDP (1994): $310 million. Annual growth rate: 2 percent. Per capita income: $309. Natural resources: Seismic studies show that oil may be present. Agriculture (23 percent of GDP): Products--peanuts, rice, millet, sorghum, fish, palm kernels, vegetables, livestock, forestry. Industry (11 percent of GDP): Types--peanut products, construction, brewing, soft drinks, agricultural machinery assembly, small woodworking and metal working, clothing. Trade (1994 est.): Exports--$120 million, including re-export of various goods (83 percent), peanuts (8 percent), palm kernels, fish, and other domestic products. Major markets--UK, other EU countries, and Senegal. Imports--$174 million, including textiles, foodstuffs, machinery, transportation equipment, 62 percent for domestic consumption, 38 percent for re-export. Major suppliers--UK, other EU countries, China, Japan, and other Asian countries, West African neighbors. Official exchange rate (1996 est.): 9.85 Dalasis=US$1. US economic aid received (FY1995): $1 million in the form of assistance to democracy and human rights programs and food and health aid. PEOPLE AND HISTORY A wide variety of ethnic groups live side by side in The Gambia with a minimum of inter-tribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahuli. Approximately 2,500 non-Africans live in The Gambia, including Europeans and many families of Lebanese origin. Muslims constitute over 95 percent of the population. Christians of different denominations account for most of the remainder. Gambians officially observe the holidays of both religions and practice religious tolerance. More than 80 percent of Gambians live in rural villages, although more and more young people come to the capital in search of work and education. While urban migration, development projects, and modernization are bringing more and more Gambians into contact with Western habits and values, the traditional emphasis on the extended family, as well as indigenous forms of dress and celebration, remain integral parts of everyday life. The Gambia was once part of the Empire of Ghana and the Kingdom of the Songhais. The first written accounts of the region come from records of Arab traders in the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. Arab traders established the trans-Saharan trade route for slaves, gold, and ivory. In the 15th century, the Portuguese took over this trade using maritime routes. At that time, The Gambia was part of the Kingdom of Mali. 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, 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 an enclave at Albreda on the north bank of the river (ceded to the United Kingdom in 1857). As many as 3 million slaves may have been taken from the region during the 3 centuries that the trade operated. It is not known how many were taken by Arab traders. Most of those taken were sold to Europeans by other Africans; some were prisoners of inter-tribal wars, some were sold because of unpaid debts, while others were kidnapped. Slaves were initially sent to Europe to work as servants until the market for labor expanded in the West Indies and North America in the 18th century. In 1807, slave trading was abolished throughout the British empire, and the British tried unsuccessfully to end the slave traffic in The Gambia. They established the military post of Bathurst (now Banjul) in 1816. In the ensuing years, Banjul was at times under the jurisdiction of the governor general in Sierra Leone. In 1888, The Gambia became a separate entity again. An 1889 agreement with France established the present boundaries, and The Gambia became a British Crown Colony, divided for administrative purposes into the colony (city of Banjul and the surrounding area) and the protectorate (remainder of the territory). The Gambia received its own executive and legislative councils in 1901 and gradually progressed toward self-government. A 1906 ordinance abolished slavery. During World War II, Gambian troops fought with the Allies in Burma, and Banjul served as an air stop for the US Army Air Corps and a port of call for allied naval convoys. US President Franklin D. Roosevelt stopped overnight in Banjul en route to and from the Casablanca Conference in 1943, marking the first visit to the African continent by an American president in office. After World War II, the pace of constitutional advance quickened, and 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. Shortly thereafter, the government proposed conversion from a monarchy to a republic with an elected president replacing the British monarch as chief of state. The proposal failed to receive the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution, but the results won widespread attention abroad as testimony to The Gambia's observance of secret balloting, honest elections, and civil rights and liberties. On April 24, 1970, The Gambia became a republic following a majority-approved referendum. Until a military coup in July 1994, The Gambia was led by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who wasre-elected five times. The relative stability of the Jawara era was broken first in a violent coup attempt in 1981. The coup was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who, on two occasions, had unsuccessfully sought election to parliament. After a week of violence which left severalhundred dead, Jawara, in London when the attack began, appealed to Senegal for help. Senegalese troops defeated the rebel force. In the aftermath of the attempted coup, Senegal and The Gambia signed the 1982 Treaty of Confederation. The result, the Senegambia Confederation, aimed eventually to combine the armed forces of the two nations and unify economies and currencies. The Gambia withdrew from the confederation in 1989. In July 1994, the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) seized power in a military coup d'etat. The AFPRC deposed the democratically elected government of Sir Dawda Jawara. Captain Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, chairman of the AFPRC, became head of state. The AFPRC has announced a transition schedule for return to democratic, civilian government before the end of 1996. It has denied its intention to stay in power and, although delayed, has proceeded with the transition timetable. Presidential elections are scheduled for September 11, 1996. GOVERNMENT The 1970 constitution, which divided the government into independent executive, legislative, and judicial branches, was suspended after the 1994 military coup. As part of its announced transition process, the AFPRC established the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) through decree in March 1995. In accordance with the timetable for the transition to a democratically elected government, the commission has drafted a new constitution for The Gambia to be approved or disapproved in a referendum to be held August 7, 1996. The draft provides for a strong presidential government, a unicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and protection of human rights. Local government in The Gambia varies. Banjul has an elected town council. Five rural divisions exist, each with a council containing a majority of elected members. Each council has its own treasury and is responsible for local government services. The tribal chiefs retain traditional powers authorized by customary law. Principal Government Officials Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Chairman--Captain Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Vice Chairman--Captain Edward Singhateh Ambassador to the US--position is currently vacant UN Representative--Momodou Kebba Jallow The Gambia maintains an embassy at 1155 15th Street, NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005. Tel. 202-785-1399. Its UN Mission is located at 820 2nd Avenue, Suite 900-C , New York, NY 10017. Tel. 212-949-6640. DEFENSE The Gambian national army numbers approximately 900. The Gambian army had received technical assistance and training from the United States and United Kingdom prior to the coup. With the withdrawal of this aid, the army has sought assistance from other African countries. Members of the force have participated in the monitoring group of the peace-keeping force (ECOMOG) deployed during the Liberian civil war beginning in 1990. Responsibilities for internal security and law enforcement rest with the Gambian police/gendarme force under the Inspector General of Police and the Ministry of Interior. POLITICAL CONDITIONS Prior to the coup d'etat in July 1994, The Gambia had been one of the oldest existing multi-party democracies in Africa. It had conducted freely-contested elections every 5 years. Since the military coup, freedom of speech has been severely restricted and the right to form political parties in opposition to the government has been banned. The People's Progressive Party (PPP), headed by former president Jawara, dominated Gambian politics for nearly 30 years. After spearheading the movement toward complete independence from Britain, the PPP was voted into power and was never seriously challenged by any opposition party. The country's most recent elections were held in April 1992. Presidential elections are scheduled to be held on September 11, 1996 and legislative elections on December 11, 1996. ECONOMY The Gambian economy is characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture, historic reliance on peanuts or groundnuts for export earnings, and a re-export trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, and a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls. Three sectors of the economy--horticulture, fisheries, and tourism--have experienced significant growth during recent years, and are expected to be the focus of export-oriented investment. Agriculture accounts for 23 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 75 percent of the labor force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 5.3 percent of GDP, other crops 8.3 percent, livestock 4.4 percent, fishing 1.8 percent and forestry 0.5 percent. Industry accounts for 12 percent of GDP and forestry .5 percent. Manufacturing accounts for 6 percent of the industry share of GDP. The limited amount of manufacturing is primarily agriculturally-based (e.g., peanut processing, bakeries, a brewery, and a tannery). Other manufacturing activities include soap, soft drinks, and clothing. Services account for the remaining 19 percent of GDP. In FY 1995, the U.K. was The Gambia's major export market, accounting for 26 percent total, followed by Senegal with 22 percent and France with 21 percent. The U.K. was the major source of imports, accounting for 14 percent followed by Belgium, the Netherlands and Cote D'Ivoire. The Gambia reports 3 percent of its exports going to and 5 percent of its imports coming from the United States. FOREIGN RELATIONS The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former president Jawara's reign. It maintains particularly close relations with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and other African countries. In November 1995, Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council Chairman Jammeh announced the establishment of diplomatic relations with Libya. The country has also established relations with Taiwan. The Gambia takes an active interest in international --especially African and Arab-- affairs, although its representation abroad is limited. As member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), The Gambia has played an active role in directing that organization's efforts to resolve the Liberian civil war. It has participated actively in the process of negotiating a peace agreement and has contributed troops to the community's cease-fire monitoring group (ECOMOG). US-GAMBIAN RELATIONS U.S. policy is to expand and strengthen its friendly ties with The Gambia through promotion of the return to democratic rule and respect for human rights. The U.S. development effort in The Gambia continues in the form of such programs as food aid (through Catholic Relief Services) assistance in the transition to democracy and the work of the peace corps. The Peace Corps program involves about 75 volunteers mainly engaged in forestry, agriculture, and secondary school teaching. Principal US Officials Ambassador--Gerald W. Scott Political/Consular Officer--Kimberly Kelly Deputy Chief of Mission--Douglas Rohn Peace Corps Country Director--Wayne Nishek The US Embassy in The Gambia is in Fajara on Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue). (Tel. [220] 392856; Fax [220] 392475). The Peace Corps office (Tel. [220] 392466) is on Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), one city block from the Embassy. TRAVEL NOTES Climate and clothing: The Gambia's sub-tropical climate has a distinct hot, rainy season (mid-May to mid-November). During the cold, dry season (mid-November to mid-May), light jackets and sweaters are often worn. Health: Sanitation in Banjul is fair, and tap water is potable. Immunizations, and antimalaria suppressants are recommended. Mosquitoes carry a chloroquine-resistant variety of malaria. Telecommunications: Telex and fax services are available to the US, Europe, and Dakar. Radiotelephone service operates to the UK, most of Europe, and the west coast of Africa. Satellite-telephone service is available to Europe and the US. Banjul is 5 standard time zones ahead of eastern standard time. Transportation: Banjul is 25 minutes by air from Dakar, where worldwide air connections are frequent and excellent. Direct flights to London and Brussels operate frequently. Taxis are available at stands; it is advisable to agree on the fare in advance. Visas: Visas for American citizens are required and should be obtained before arrival from the Gambian Embassy in Washington, DC, the Gambian UN mission in New York, or Gambian missions in other countries. =========================================== DEPARTMENT OF STATE'S WORLD WIDE WEB SITE The most current Background Notes information can be found on the Department of State's World Wide Web site at http://www.state.gov =========================================== (###)