The Government of Gambia - The World Countries

Gambia - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Gambia, it was named for the Gambia River that flows through the heart of the country. The Government system in this country is the presidential republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 5 regions, 1 city*, and 1 municipality**; Banjul*, Central River, Kanifing**, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, West Coast

National symbols

Lion; national colors: red, blue, green, white.

The flag

The National flag of Gambia has three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green; red stands for the sun and the savannah, blue represents the Gambia River, and green symbolizes forests and agriculture; the white stripes denote unity and peace.

The National Anthem

Title	"For The Gambia, Our Homeland"
Lyric/music	Virginia Julie HOWE/adapted by Jeremy Frederick HOWE

note: adopted 1965; the music is an adaptation of the traditional Mandinka song "Foday Kaba Dumbuya"

More about the government of Gambia

Constitution
Date of Independence	18 February 1965 (from the UK)
National holiday	Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Legal system	mixed legal system of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law
International law organization participation	accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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; a second draft completed in March 2020 was rejected by the National Assembly 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 participation of at least 50% of eligible voters and approval by at least 75% of votes cast; amended 2001, 2004, 2018
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	yes
Citizenship by descent only	yes
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	5 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2022)
Head of government	Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 23 February 2024)
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%
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 53, women 5, percentage women 8.6%
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
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
FAX	[1] (202) 785-1430
Email address and website	[email protected] https://www.gambiaembassydc.us/home
Diplomatic representation from the 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	[email protected] https://gm.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	2 (both cultural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Kunta Kinteh Island and Related Sites; Stone Circles of Senegambia