Gambia, The Country & Tourist Information

Location
West Africa.

Area
11,295 sq km (4,361 sq miles).

Population
1.6 million (2006 estimate).

Population Density
142 per sq km.

Capital
Banjul.
Population: 38,828 (2003).

Government
Republic. Gained independence from the UK in 1965.

Language
The official language is English. The most widely spoken local languages are Fula, Jola, Mandinka, Manjago, Serahule, Serer and Wolof.

Religion
Over 85% Muslim, with the remainder holding either Christian or animist beliefs.

Time
GMT.

Electricity
230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either UK-style with three flat pins or Western European-style with three round pins.

Head of Government
Yahya Jammeh was elected for a third term in the September 2006 presidential elections, winning 67.3% of the vote. He came to power in a coup in 1994.

Head of State
President Al-Haji Yahya AJJ Jammeh since 1996.

Telephone
Country code: 220.

Mobile Telephone
Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good around Banjul and most other towns but patchy to non-existent elsewhere.

Internet
Email can be accessed in Internet cafes in major towns.

Media
State-run Gambia Television and Radio Gambia broadcast tightly-controlled news. Private media are severely restricted, with radio stations and newspapers having to pay large license fees. A media bill passed in March 2002 was considered a threat to press freedom. The law set up a commission whose powers range from issuing licenses to jailing journalists. In 2004, further legislation was introduced allowing for jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or sedition.

Post
The postal service can be slow and unreliable. The main post office is on Wellington Street, Banjul.

Post office hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1215 and 1400-1600, Fri 0800-1215 and 1430-1630, Sat 0800-1200.

Press
• The Observer is a daily newspaper in English.
• Other publications include The Independent, Foroyaa (bi-weekly) and The Point (thrice-weekly).

Radio
• State-run national broadcaster Radio Gambia transmits programs in English and local languages.
• Private stations include Radio 1 FM (music), West Coast Radio and Sud FM.
• Radio France Internationale is available via an FM relay.

Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2007-December 2008 period.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
18 Feb Independence Day.
31 Mar Milad al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
6 Apr Good Friday.
9 Apr Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
22 Jul Revolution Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
13 Oct Koriteh (End of Ramadan).
20 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas.

2007
1 Jan New Year’s Day.
18 Feb Independence Day. 
20 Mar Milad al-Nabi (Birth of the Prophet). 
21 Mar Good Friday.
24 Mar Easter Monday.
1 May Labor Day.
22 Jul Revolution Day.
15 Aug Assumption.
2 Oct Koriteh (End of Ramadan).
9 Dec Tabaski (Feast of the Sacrifice).
25 Dec Christmas.


Note
Muslim festivals are timed according to local sightings of various phases of the moon and the dates given above are approximations. During the lunar month of Ramadan that precedes Koriteh, Muslims fast during the day and feast at night and normal business patterns may be interrupted in a few instances.

Contact Information:

High Commission of the Republic of The Gambia in the UK
57 Kensington Court, London W8 5DG, UK
Tel: (020) 7937 6316/7/8.
Opening hours: Mon-Thurs 1000-1600, Fri 1000-1200.

The Gambia Tourism Authority in the UK
Address as for High Commission.
Tel: (020) 7376 0093.
Website: www.visitthegambia.gm

Embassy of the Republic of The Gambia in the USA
Suite 905, 1156 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005, USA
Tel: (202) 785 1399 or 1425.
Website: www.gambiaembassy.us


Next Page »

Related Gambia, The Content