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WEST
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| Creating a Sustainable Future for West Africa |
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 Map courtesy of the CIA World Factbook, 2002 In the centuries preceding colonial times, the area known today as The Gambia was part of several subsequent West African kingdoms and empires, among them the Kingdom of Ghana, the Songhai empire and later on smaller Mandinka kingdoms. From the 17th to the 18th century, European traders increased their presence in the region, and the transatlantic slave trade saw hundreds of thousands, if not millions (the numbers are hard to confirm) of West Africans being taken by force to the Americas. British presence in the region became more important at the end of the 18th century, but only in the 1820s was the settlement on the River Gambia called a "protectorate". The Colony of Gambia was officialized at the Paris Conference in 1889. The rather strange shape of the country today is a consequence of failed negotiations between Britain and France regarding several of their African territories at the time. Britain first saw Gambia as a bargaining chip for more coveted territories elsewhere on the continent, but it failed to win the upper-hand in the negotiations with France, and ended-up with a small strip along the River Gambia, in the middle of French-controlled Senegal. The Gambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom on February 18th, 1965, led by the People's Progressive Party (PPP) of Dawda Jawara. Politics Jawara was to be in power for 32 years, winning every subsequent election. In the 1980s, a failed coup attempt led to the creation of a confederation with Senegal (Senegambia). In 1989 the Senegambia Confederation was abolished, mostly because of Senegal's frustration over the slow pace towards a more complete union. The current president, Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh, has been in power since a bloodless military coup on July 22nd, 1994, when he overthrew President Jawara, who had been re-elected in 1992. There has been two presidential elections since then, in 1997 and in 2001, both of which were won by President Jammeh. It is expected that there will be another election in the fall of 2006. The Gambia is considered a republic under multiparty democratic rule.  President Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh Economy The currency is the Dalasi,
and Gambia's total Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for 2003 was 400
million US$. The GDP per capita at Purchasing Power Parity
(PPP-adjusted to the cost of living) was 1, 859 US $. Geography
Weather The population of The Gambia stands at about 1,600,000 people, 64% of which live below the poverty line. It is a mostly rural population (73.8%). Languages and ethnic groups: The main ethno-linguistic groups in The Gambia are the Mandinkas (42%), the Fulas (18%), the Wolofs (16%), the Serahulis (9%) and the Jolas (10%). Most Gambians know several local languages, and intermarriage between groups is very common. The official language is English, and while many Gambians speak it, especially on the Western coast, one is most likely to hear Mandinka or Wolof being spoken in daily life. Religion: ................................. Gregg, Emma and Richard Trillo, The Rough Guide to The Gambia, New-York/London/New Delhi: Rough Guides, 2003. CIA World Factbook, 2005, www. Human Development Report 2005, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), www.undp.org |
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