What is the capital of Gambia, The?
Country Name | The Gambia |
Full Country Name | Republic of The Gambia |
Etymology- history of name | Named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country |
Government Type | Presidential republic |
Capital Name | Banjul |
Capital - geographic coordinate | 13 27 N, 16 34 W |
Capital Time Difference | UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time) |
Independence | 18 February 1965 (from the UK) |
National Holiday | Independence Day, 18 February (1965) |
Constitution |
History: Previous 1965 (Independence Act), 1970; latest adopted 8 April 1996, approved by referendum 8 August 1996, effective 16 January 1997; note - in early 2018, the "Constitutional Review Commission," was established to draft and assist in instituting a new constitution; the National Assembly rejected a second draft completed in March 2020 in September; the president announced in January 2022 government plans to draft a new constitution Amendments: Proposed by the National Assembly; passage requires at least three-fourths majority vote by the Assembly membership in each of several readings and approval by the president of the republic; a referendum is required for amendments affecting national sovereignty, fundamental rights and freedoms, government structures and authorities, taxation, and public funding; passage by referendum requires the participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2018 |
Who is the president of Gambia, The?
Executive Branch: |
Chief of State: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Muhammed B.S. JALLOW (24 February 2023; note - the president is both chief of state and head of government Head of Government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022); Vice President Muhammed B.S. JALLOW (24 February 2023) Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president Elections/Appointments: president directly elected by simple majority popular vote for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in 2026); vice president appointed by the president Election results: 2021: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (NPP) 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE (UDP) 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 12.3%, other 6.8% 2016: Adama BARROW elected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW (Coalition 2016) 43.3%, Yahya JAMMEH (APRC) 39.6%, Mamma KANDEH (GDC) 17.1% |
Citizenship Criteria: |
Citizenship by birth: Yes Citizenship by descent only: Yes Dual citizenship recognized: No Residency requirement for naturalization: 5 years |
Legal System: | Mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law |
Suffrage: | 18 years of age; universal |
Legislative Branch: |
Description: Unicameral National Assembly (58 seats; 53 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 5 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms) Elections: Last held on 9 April 2022 (next to be held in 2027) Election results: percent of vote by party - NPP 33.9%, UDP 28.3%, independent 22.6%, NRP 7.5%, PDOIS 3.7%, APRL 3.7%; seats by party - NPP 18, UDP 15, independent 12,NRP 4, APRL 2, PDOIS 2; composition - men 52, women 6, percent of women 10.3% |
Judicial Branch: |
Highest court(s): Supreme Court of The Gambia (consists of the chief justice and 6 justices; court sessions held with 5 justices) Judge selection and term of office: Justices appointed by the president after consultation with the Judicial Service Commission, a 6-member independent body of high-level judicial officials, a presidential appointee, and a National Assembly appointee; justices appointed for life or until mandatory retirement at age 75 Subordinate courts: Court of Appeal; High Court; Special Criminal Court; Khadis or Muslim courts; district tribunals; magistrates courts; cadi courts |
Regions or States: | 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast |
Political Parties and Leaders: |
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC [Fabakary JATTA] Gambia Democratic Congress or GDC [Mama KANDEH] Gambia Moral Congress or GMC [Mai FATTY] National People's Party or NPP [Adama BARROW] People's Progressive Party or PPP [Yaya CEESAY)] United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE] |
International Law Organization Participation: | Accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction |
International Organization Participation: | ACP, AfDB, AU, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IDB, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW, UN, UNAMID, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHRC, UNIDO, UNISFA, UNMIL, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO |
Diplomatic Representation in the US: |
Chief of Mission: Ambassador Momodou Lamin BAH (12 December 2022) Chancery: 5630 16th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011 Telephone: [1] (202) 785-1399; [1] (202) 785-1428 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430 Email address and website: info@gambiaembassydc.us; gambiaembassydc@gmail.com https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home |
Diplomatic Representation from US: |
Chief of Mission: Ambassador Sharon L. CROMER (since 18 March 2022) Embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, P.M.B. 19, Banjul Mailing address: 2070 Banjul Place, Washington DC 20521-2070 Telephone: [220] 439-2856 FAX: [220] 439-2475 Email address and website: ConsularBanjul@state.gov https://gm.usembassy.gov/ |