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���� About The Gambia

���� The Gambia is a small (4,000 square miles or 11,295 sq. km)

���� country in West Africa. It is surrounded by Senegal on all sides

���� (see map), except on the Atlantic coast, and for this reason the

���� two countries have a lot of ethnic and cultural ties. In

���� contrast to Senegal, a former French colony, The Gambia was

���� colonized by Britain and gained it's Independence on February

���� 18, 1965.

���� From Independence in 1965 to

���� April, 1970 the country had a

���� parliamentary democracy with a Prime Minister, and the Queen of

���� England as the Head of State.

���� The country became a Republic in April 1970, with an Executive

���� President as the Head of State, and the Parliament as the

���� Legislative body. In contrast to a number of African countries,

���� The Gambia retained a democratic tradition, holding universal

���� adult suffrage elections every 5 years. These elections were

���� contested by a number of parties, again in contrast to the

���� single-party 'democratic' systems that were popular in a variety

���� of African countries. The election system was slightly modified

���� in 1982, with a change to the direct election of the President,

���� rather than indirectly by the Members of Parliament.

���� The democratic tradition of The Gambia was briefly

���� interrupted in July, 1981 with an abortive attempt

���� to overthrow the government by the then paramilitary Field

���� Force. This attempt was crushed by Senegalese troops, who

���� intervened on the pretext that the coup attempt was foreign

���� inspired, and a threat to the welfare of the Senegalese

���� community in The Gambia. President Jawara was thus restored to

���� power, and in the aftermath of the events, entered into a

���� Confederation called Senegambia with Senegal. This confederation

���� however, was to be dissolved in September, 1989 following

���� irreconcilable differences between the parties.

���� A major milestone in The Gambia's political history

���� was the overthrow of the Jawara government in July,

���� 1994, by young, and junior officers of the Gambian military

���� which had been built up by Jawara himself. The military

���� officers, under the leadership of Lieutenant Yaya Jammeh (later

���� Captain and then Colonel), alleged rampant corruption and

���� incompetence as the main reason for overthrowing the Jawara

���� government. The military takeover was roundly condemned by the

���� International community, most especially because Jawara had in

���� the almost 30 years of his rule managed to establish an

���� international reputation for adherence to democratic rule and

���� human rights. Following intense pressure from both within The

���� Gambia, and without (see Report of The NCC), the military-led

���� government announced a timetable for transferring power to

���� civilians in 1996, following a review of the constitution,

���� probes in the wealth of public servants, and elections.

���� A referendum was held on the 8th��

���� of August, 1996 and over 70

���� percent of those who voted endorsed the ratification of the

���� Draft Constitution as the fundamental law of the Second

���� Republic.

���� On 26 September the presidential election was held after a ban

���� on political parties was lifted. A decree was passed which

���� disqualified former President Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the

���� former Vice-President and all former ministers of the People's

���� Progressive Party (PPP) from contesting any political office.

���� the National Convention Party (NCP), and the Gambia People's

���� The other main political parties in the Gambia before the coup,

���� Party (GPP), were also banned from participating in the

���� election.

���� Four parties contested the Presidential elections. Alliance for

���� Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) led by Mr. Yahya

���� Jammeh who resigned from the military to run in the elections,

���� United Democratic Party (UDP) led by Barrister Ousainou Darboe,

���� Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism

���� (PDOIS) led by Mr. Sidia Jatta and National Reconciliation Party

���� (NRP) led by Mr. Hamat Bah.

���� Jammeh won 56% of the votes and thereby, the first President of

���� the Second Republic.

���� National Assembly Elections was held on the 2nd of January, 1997

���� and the APRC won 33 seats out of 45. UDP won 7 seats, NRP 2

���� seats, and PDOIS 1 seat and 2 Independent Candidates.

���� On the economic front, The Gambia has����

���� been a primarily agricultural country.

���� An estimated 81% of the population is engaged in agriculture,

���� while groundnuts (peanuts) account for about 85% of export

���� earnings (Country Profile 1993/94: The Gambia, and Mauritania.

���� The Economist Intelligence Unit. 1993). With a trade policy

���� traditionally more liberal than it's neighbors, because of a

���� smaller industrial base to protect, The Gambian economy has

���� always had a brisk re-export sector. Tourism, has been a large

���� component of the service sector, which has accounted for up to

���� 60% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

���� Despite it's size, The Gambia is relatively densely

���� populated, with a predominantly Muslim population of

���� slightly over 1 million (1993 census figures), and growing at an

���� annual rate of approximately 3%. Major ethnic groups are Fula,

���� Jola, Mandinka, Serahule, and Wollof. The illiteracy rates is

���� very high (61%), and this generally reflects the low Human

���� Development Index (HDI) scores the country has. Thus, for 1998

���� The Gambias' HDI ranked 165 out of 174 countries. Per capita

���� income is also amongst the lowest in the world.

���� Despite the economic poverty and political setbacks, The�

���� Gambia has always been active in the International

���� arena, being a member of the United Nations, the Organization of

���� African Unity, and the Economic Community of West African States

���� (ECOWAS). The Gambia has also provided troops to regional

���� peace-keeping efforts, most notably in Liberia, as well as being

���� an active participant in mediation efforts.

���� This strong tradition of peacefulness, and respect for human

���� rights was the reason why the African Center for Democracy and

���� Human Rights Studies was created in 1989 by a bill of The

���� Gambian parliament with the vision to "promote in co-operation

���� with other African and international institutions, the

���� observance of human and peoples' rights and democratic

���� principles throughout Africa". It should however be noted that

���� the ACDHRS is governed by an independent council of African

���� jurists and other related experts.

���� The African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, an organ

���� set up under the provisions of the African Charter on Human and

���� Peoples' Rights by the OAU in 1986, is also head quartered in

���� The Gambia. The Secretariat of this regional human rights

���� institution is in the same building with the African Center for

���� Democracy and Human Rights Studies.

���� Because of her rich bird life, The

���� Gambia is becoming more and more

���� popular as a paradise for bird watchers from all over the

���� Europe. During the past few years, thousands of ornithologists

���� came to The Gambia to watch over 500 different species of

���� beautifully plumed birds of The Gambia.

���� In April 1994, indigenous Gambian youths concerned with the

���� preservation of the country's flora and fauna formed the West

���� African Bird Study Association (WABSA).

����������������������� THE GAMBIA NATIONAL ANTHEM

�������������������� ---------------------------------

��������������������� For the Gambia, our homeland we

������������������������ strive and work and pray,

����������������������� That all may live in unity,

����������������������� Freedom and peace each day,

������������������ Let justice guide our actions towards

����������������������������� the common good,

������������������ And join our diverse peoples to prove

���������������������������� man's brotherhood.

���������������������� We pledge our firm allegiance,

�������������� ������������Our promises we renew,

���������������������� Keep us great God of nations,

����������������������� The Gambia on the Internet

������������������������� to The Gambia ever true.

���� Report of The National Consultative Committee on the Armed

���� Forces Provisional Ruling Council's Programme of Rectification

���� and Timetable for Transition to Democratic Constitutional Rule

���� in The Gambia.

���� Other Gambians on the WWW - My collection of some personal web

���� sites of Gambians on the Internet

���� The Gambia government - The official web site of The Gambia.

���� This site has information on History & Geography, Government,

���� Investment Opportunities, Economic development, Tourism and

���� Important addresses.

���� The Gambia Resource Page is an excellent source of up to date

���� information about The Gambia, like detail map, schools, some

���� history, pictures, Gambian languages, etc.

���� www.GambiaNet.com

���� The commonwealth- The commonwealth and its members (GAMBIA PAGE)

���� Catholic Relief Services/The Gambia - information on their

���� projects in The Gambia

���� HealthNet Gambia -WWW site for The Medical Research Council

���� (MRC).

���� Tanje Village Museum opened in November 1997. It's

���� director/owner and curator is Abdoulie Bayo, who before that was

���� the curator of the National Museum in Banjul. The museum is

���� intended for Gambian children, students and adults, but also for

���� non-Gambians who want to know more about The Gambia and

���� Gambians.

��� �The Gambia Story Liesbet's story of her trips to The Gambia

�����     Internet Service Providers in Gambia Gambia

���� Telecommunication Company Ltd Quantum Net

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������� * Gambia-L The Gambia and related issues mailing list. One

��������� needs to subscribe through the list managers or the web

��������� interface below. Gambia-l had been hosted by the University

��������� of Washington from January 31, 1996 until May 19, 1999 when

��������� the list was moved to St. Johns University in New York, NY,

��������� USA.

��������� New members are expected to introduce themselves and their

��������� interests.

��������� To subscribe/unsubscribe or view archives of postings, go

�������� �to the Gambia-L Web interface at:

��������� http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/gambia-l.html

����������������������������� NEWS FROM THE GAMBIA

������� * Quantum Net- GRTS, The Point,The Independent, Daily

��������� Observer

������� * www.gambianews.com - The Gambia Daily

������� * Africa News Online The Africa News Server - Gambia

������� * Archives of The Gambia Daily News

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