History UsefulNotes / TheGambia

** Vice President: Isatou Touray

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} except for the entrance to the North [[UsefulNotes/TheSevenSeas Atlantic Ocean]] on its west coast, the '''Republic of the Gambia''' is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only [[UsefulNotes/TheBahamas two in the world]] to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

It spent five years after independence in 1965 as a Commonwealth Realm, with [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Queen Elizabeth II]] as its head of state. Dawda Jawara led People's Progressive Party to dominate the country for 24 years. There was a communist coup in 1981, which the Gambia pacified with Senegal's help. Afterward, both countries held talks for a military union, with provisions that would lead to a full union (''Senegambia Confederation''). The plans failed to gain hold.

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} except for the entrance to the North [[UsefulNotes/TheSevenSeas Atlantic Ocean]] on its west coast, the '''Republic of the Gambia''' is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only two in the world to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

The current border of the country was defined in 1889 after negotiations between the British and the French, who controlled Senegal. The boundary prevents the country from being defined as an enclave, since sea access is available. Nevertheless, the Gambia remains politically and economically dependent on Senegal. This is most apparent during the constitutional crisis of 2016.

It spent five years after independence in 1965 as a Commonwealth Realm, with [[UsefulNotes/HMTheQueen Queen Elizabeth II]] as its head of state. Dawda Jawara led People's Progressive Party to dominate the country for 24 years. There was a communist coup in 1981, which the Gambia pacified with Senegal's help. Afterwards, both countries held talks for a military union, with provisions that would lead to a full union (''Senegambia Confederation''). The plans failed to gain hold.

Another coup occurred in 1994 and this time, it succeeded. Colonel Yahya Jammeh ascended to power and promised an eventual transition to civilian government. The first post-coup presidential election was held in 1996, with Jammeh winning. He was reelected three times.

Like Senegal, the overwhelming majority of the population adhere to Islam. The Mandinka people have a plural majority, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Soninke.

Under Jammeh's rule, the Gambia exited the Commonwealth in 2015. He also changed the country's title to the ''Islamic Republic of the Gambia''. Both policies were reversed by his successor.

The country came to the world's attention recently due to the 2016 election and the constitutional crisis following it. A presidential election was held on the 1st of December, 2016, and in a surprise result, the elections commission declared Adama Barrow the winner of the presidential election, with 43.3% of the vote compared to Yahya Jammeh's 39.6% and Mama Kandeh's 17.1%. Jammeh had announced he would step down after losing the 2016 election before election, but declared the results void and called for a new vote on the 9th of December. Troops were then deployed in Banjul and Serekunda, as ECOWAS delegates tried and failed to persuade Jammeh to step down. A coalition of military forces from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana invaded the Gambia on the 19th January 2017 to compel him to relinquish power, and two days later, Jammeh surrendered presidential duties in favour of Barrow and was exiled to Equatorial Guinea.

* '''Highest point:''' Red Rock (64 m/210 ft) (208th)

* '''Highest point:''' Red Rock (64 m/210 ft) (193rd)

* '''Highest point:''' Red Rock (64 m/210 ft) (192nd)

* '''Highest point:''' Red Rock (64 m/210 ft) (192th)

* '''ISO-3166-1 Code:''' GM

* '''Area:''' 10,689 sq km (4,127 sq mi) (159th)

* '''Currency''': Dalasi (D) (GMD)

** Vice President: Isatou Touray

https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_gambia_flag.png

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A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} except for the entrance to the North [[UsefulNotes/TheSevenSeas Atlantic Ocean]] on its west coast, the **Republic of the Gambia** is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only two in the world to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} except for the entrance to the North [[UsefulNotes/TheSevenSeas Atlantic Ocean]] on its west coast, the Republic of the Gambia is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only two in the world to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

It spent five years after independence in 1965 as a Commonwealth Realm, with Queen Elizabeth II as its head of state. Dawda Jawara led People's Progressive Party to dominate the country for 24 years. There was a communist coup in 1981, which the Gambia pacified with Senegal's help. Afterwards, both countries held talks for a military union, with provisions that would lead to a full union (''Senegambia Confederation''). The plans failed to gain hold.

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by UsefulNotes/{{Senegal}} except for the entrance to the North Atlantic Ocean on its west coast, the Republic of the Gambia is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only two in the world to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by Senegal except for the entrance to the North Atlantic Ocean on its west coast, the Republic of the Gambia is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland. The country is one of the only two in the world to have ''The'' officially preceding its name.

A thin, narrow country completely surrounded by Senegal except for the entrance to the North Atlantic Ocean on it's west coast, The Gambia, officially the Republic of the Gambia, is a West African country and former British colony built on the banks of the Gambia river, hence the country's name. The capital, Banjul, is located on the St Mary's Island (Banjul Island) where the Gambia River enters the Atlantic Ocean, with the largest city, Serekunda, being located further west on the mainland.

You have probably heard of this country recently from the election in 2016 and the constitutional crisis following it. A presidential election was held on the 1st of December, 2016, and in a surprise result, the elections commission declared Adama Barrow the winner of the presidential election, with 43.3% of the vote compared to Jammeh's 39.6% and Mama Kandeh's 17.1%. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, who had been the president of the country for 22 years, had announced he would step down after losing the 2016 election before election, but declared the results void and called for a new vote on the 9th of December. Troops were then deployed in Banjul and Serekunda, as ECOWAS delegates tried and failed to persuade Jammeh to step down. A coalition of military forces from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana invaded the Gambia on the 19th January 2017 to compel him to relinquish power, and two days later, Jammeh surrendered presidential duties in favour of Barrow and was exiled to Equatorial Guinea.

You have probably heard of this country recently from the election in 2016 and the constitutional crisis following it. A presidential election was held on the 1st of December, 2016, and in a surprise result, the elections commission declared Adama Barrow the winner of the presidential election, with 43.3% of the vote compared to Jammeh's 39.6% and Mama Kandeh's 17.1%. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, who had been the president of the country for 22 years, had announced he would step down after losing the 2016 election before election, but declared the results void and calling for a new vote on the 9th of December. Troops were then deployed in Banjul and Serekunda, as ECOWAS delegates tried and failed to persuade Jammeh to step down. A coalition of military forces from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana invaded the Gambia on the 19th January 2017 to compel him to relinquish power, and two days later, Jammeh surrendered presidential duties in favour of Barrow and was exiled to Equatorial Guinea.