The Gambia | Government

Country name:

Conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia

Conventional short form: The Gambia

Government type:

Republic

Capital:

Banjul

Administrative divisions:

5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western Division

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 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); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta); Vice President Isatou Njie SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government

Cabinet:

Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 18 October 2001 (next to be held October 2006)

Election results:

Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 52.9%, Ousainou DARBOE 32.7%

Legislative branch:

Unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)

Elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007)

Election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

Judicial branch:

Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders:

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA]

note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Political pressure groups and leaders:
NA

International organization participation:

ACP, AfDB, AU, C, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ITU, MIGA, NAM, OIC, ONUB, OPCW, UN, UNAMSIL, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNMEE, UNMIL, UNOCI, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

chancery: Suite 1000, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005

telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379

FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

Diplomatic representation from the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III

embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul

mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul

telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971

FAX: [220] 392475

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green