conventional long form: Republic of The
Gambia conventional short form: The Gambia
Government type:
republic under multiparty democratic rule
Capital:
Banjul
Administrative
divisions:
5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River,
Lower 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 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 head of government: President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18
October 1996; note - from 1994 to 1996 was he 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; the number of terms is not restricted; election last held 18
October 2001 (next to be held NA 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, five appointed by the president; members
serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held NA
January 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 [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
chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant);
Charge d'Affaires Lena Manga Sagnia SECK chancery: Suite 905, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379
Diplomatic
representation from the US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Jackson
McDONALD 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