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Gambia
Africa
The smallest country on mainland Africa, The Gambia follows the Gambia River. It's known for agriculture, tourism, and vibrant cultural traditions.
2,800,000
Population
11,295
Area (km²)
Banjul
Capital
31
Historical Events
Historical Timeline
Cities
31 Events
September 17, 2025 - New Auditor General Sowe assumes office amid backlash; parliament debates the removal, with opposition calling it unconstitutional; threats of mass protests in Banjul emerge.
September 16, 2025 - Police disperse protests over Ceesay's ouster; activists Kemo Fatty and Alieu Bah are arrested after a press conference.
September 15, 2025 - Police forcibly remove Auditor General Ceesay from his office after he refuses to vacate, sparking national outrage.
September 10, 2025 - President Barrow announces cabinet reshuffle, appointing Cherno Amadou Sowe as Auditor General; incumbent Modou Ceesay rejects the move and is offered trade minister role.
September 02, 2025 - The World Bank reports 5.7% GDP growth for the first half of 2025, crediting tourism and services amid global uncertainty.
August 10, 2025 - A one-month-old infant dies after FGM in Wellingara; two arrests follow, spotlighting enforcement gaps.
July 23, 2025 - Protests erupt in Banjul amid multiple corruption scandals.
July 22, 2025 - The first mpox case is reported, prompting a government-declared outbreak.
May 05, 2025 - Twenty-nine people, including two journalists, are arrested after protests over alleged misconduct in selling assets seized from Jammeh.
April 15, 2025 - Former Gambian military officer Michael Sang Correa is convicted in the US for torturing five people linked to a 2006 coup plot against Yahya Jammeh.
December 16, 2024 - ECOWAS establishes a court to prosecute crimes from Jammeh's dictatorship era.
October 15, 2024 - IMF staff conclude a review, praising fiscal reforms but urging debt management amid 5.6% GDP growth projection.
October 09, 2024 - The Gambia is elected to the UN Human Rights Council for a 2025–2027 term.
September 15, 2024 - The Information Ministry suspends new radio licenses, raising press freedom alarms.
September 01, 2024 - The National Assembly increases the minimum penalty for "homosexual acts" from two to five years, drawing LGBT+ rights backlash.
August 01, 2024 - The government releases a draft constitution criticized for insufficient consultation and weakening checks on presidential power, including vague term limits for Barrow.
July 15, 2024 - Parliament rejects a bill to repeal the 2015 FGM ban, upholding the prohibition amid ongoing advocacy.
May 16, 2024 - A Swiss court sentences former Gambian interior minister Ousman Sonko to 20 years for crimes against humanity committed under Yahya Jammeh's regime.
April 01, 2024 - Eight members of civil society group Gambia Participates are arrested during a sit-in protesting alleged corruption at the Gambia Ports Authority.
January 11, 2024 - The national football team's plane makes an emergency landing en route to the Africa Cup of Nations after losing oxygen, raising aviation safety concerns.
December 01, 2023 - The National Assembly passes a long-delayed anticorruption bill.
November 01, 2023 - Human rights activist Madi Jobarteh is charged with seditious intention, incitement to violence, and false publication after a Facebook post criticizing the government.
September 15, 2023 - A former fighter from Senegal's Casamance region is arrested in Senegal for the murder of two Gambian police officers, highlighting cross-border security issues.
September 01, 2023 - Online news outlet owner Bakary Mankajang is charged with witness interference while reporting on the killing of two police officers.
August 01, 2023 - Gambian athletes compete at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, marking participation in global sports.
May 01, 2023 - Local government elections see Barrow's National People's Party (NPP) perform strongly, though opposition alleges irregularities.
April 01, 2023 - President Barrow suggests regulating community radio stations that allow criticism of his government; three stations receive inquiries from regulators.
March 15, 2023 - The National Assembly passes the Prevention of Torture Act, creating a framework to prohibit, prevent, and punish torture.
March 01, 2023 - The permanent secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Water Resources is sentenced to two years in prison for corruption, the first such conviction of a senior civil servant under President Adama Barrow.
February 01, 2023 - The government establishes a commission of inquiry into local governments' use of funds, criticized as an attempt to influence upcoming local elections.
January 01, 2023 - Eight Gambian Armed Forces soldiers, one police officer, and two civilians are charged over an alleged coup attempt from late 2022; the alleged leader is later sentenced to 12 years in October, while others are acquitted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gambia
100 Questions
The Gambia is in West Africa, almost entirely surrounded by Senegal except for its Atlantic coastline.
The capital is Banjul, located on an island at the mouth of the Gambia River.
Around 2.9 million people as of 2025 estimates.
English is the official language; Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Jola, and Serer are widely spoken.
Tropical, with a hot rainy season (June–October) and a cooler dry season (November–May).
The Gambian dalasi (GMD).
Red, blue, and green horizontal stripes separated by white bands.
Banjul, Serekunda, Brikama, Bakau, and Farafenni.
On February 18, 1965, from Britain.
Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara.
Adama Barrow (as of 2025).
A presidential republic.
Mandinka (largest), Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule.
Islam (over 90%), with a Christian minority and traditional beliefs.
Around $3.5 billion in 2025 estimates.
About $1,200.
Around 58%.
About 64 years.
Around 4.5 children per woman.
About 65%.
Groundnuts (peanuts), fish, cotton, and tourism services.
Food, fuel, machinery, and manufactured goods.
Fertile land, fish stocks, and tourism potential.
The country’s defining feature, flowing through its entire length into the Atlantic Ocean.
It is the smallest mainland country in Africa, a narrow strip along the Gambia River.
The capital city, colonial architecture, and markets.
The largest urban area, a commercial and cultural hub.
Music, crafts, and wood carving.
Tourism, beaches, and Kachikally Crocodile Pool.
Rice, millet, groundnuts, fish, and vegetables.
A groundnut (peanut) stew, considered the national dish.
A one-pot rice dish, similar to jollof rice.
A stew made with okra, fish or meat, and groundnuts.
Green tea (attaya), palm wine, fruit juices, and imported soft drinks.
Football, athletics, and wrestling.
The Scorpions.
Yes, reaching the quarterfinals in 2021.
Not yet.
Musa Barrow, Omar Colley, and Ebrima Darboe.
Yes, in athletics, boxing, and judo.
Mbalax, Afrobeat, reggae, hip-hop, and traditional kora music.
A 21-string harp-lute used by griots (traditional musicians).
Traditional storytellers, historians, and musicians in West African culture.
Kankurang masquerade dances and Wolof sabar dance.
Boubous (flowing robes) for men and women; colorful wraps and headscarves for women.
They are key in farming, markets, and households but face inequality.
Around 50%.
Around 65%.
High, especially among youth (around 30%).
Around 70%.
Groundnuts, rice, millet, sorghum, and maize.
Cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry.
Limited, with shortages of staff and equipment, especially in rural areas.
Malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, and diarrheal diseases.
High, but declining.
Also high, reflecting weak healthcare.
“For The Gambia Our Homeland.”
“Progress, Peace, Prosperity.”
The lion.
The African fish eagle.
The white calla lily (widely associated).
Around 70%, higher than adults.
Around $1,200 annually.
Declining slowly.
Around 60%, with fast-growing urban centers.
Centered on farming and fishing along the Gambia River.
Imported fuel and some hydropower.
High in solar and wind.
Dependence on groundnuts and remittances.
Consolidating democracy after years of dictatorship.
Dictator who ruled from 1994 to 2017 before being ousted.
Current president, first elected in 2016 and re-elected in 2021.
Helped enforce Jammeh’s departure in 2017.
Key partner in trade, security, and integration.
Active in peacekeeping and diplomacy.
Supports human rights and participates in global peace missions.
Large communities in Europe and the U.S.
Extremely important, contributing over 20% of GDP.
Moderate, but vulnerable to import costs.
High, especially along the Gambia River valley.
A sacred site in Bakau, associated with fertility rituals.
Beaches, wildlife reserves, historic sites, and the Gambia River.
A popular reserve near Banjul with monkeys, antelopes, and birds.
One of the largest parks, home to hippos, crocodiles, and birds.
Famous for chimpanzee rehabilitation projects.
Hippos, crocodiles, monkeys, antelopes, and many bird species.
Around 15% difference.
Around 6 years.
Fighting malaria and improving maternal health.
Increasing school access in rural areas.
Wood carving, weaving, leatherwork, and batik.
They preserve history, genealogy, and music.
Independence Day, Tobaski (Eid al-Adha), Koriteh (Eid al-Fitr), and cultural music festivals.
Stable but impacted by global fuel and food prices.
Rapid, with a youthful population.
The Atlantic beaches and wildlife reserves.
Around 7 people per household.
Lower than in rural areas.
Depends on political reforms, economic diversification, and climate resilience.
It is Africa’s smallest mainland country but influential in culture, music, and regional diplomacy.