The Gambia gained its independence from the UK in 1965; it formed a short-lived federation of Senegambia with Senegal between 1982 and 1989. In 1991 the two nations signed a friendship and cooperation treaty. A military coup in 1994 overthrew the president and banned political activity, but a new 1996 constitution and presidential elections (with parliamentary elections planned for this year) have completed a nominal return to civilian rule.
Before the military coup The Gambia was led by President Dawda Kairaba Jawara, who had been re-elected five times. The relative stability of the Jawara era was broken first in a violent coup attempt in 1981. The coup was led by Kukoi Samba Sanyang, who, on two occasions, had unsuccessfully sought election to parliament. After a week of violence which left severalhundred dead, Jawara, in London when the attack began, appealed to Senegal for help. Senegalese troops defeated the rebel force.
The Gambian national army numbers approximately 900. The Gambian army had received technical assistance and training from the United States and United Kingdom prior to the coup. With the withdrawal of this aid, the army has sought assistance from other African countries.
In the past, the Gambia has been largely isolationist in their foreign policies. The Gambia followed a formal policy of non-alignment throughout most of former president Jawara's reign. Today, The Gambia takes an active interest in international (especially African and Arab) affairs, although its representation abroad is limited. It maintains particularly close relations with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and other African countries.
Demographic Data
Capital: Banjul
Government type: Military Dictatorship
Government stability: 58.7%
Government efficiency: 30.5%
Population's support to government: 59.2%
Area: 10,000 square kilometers
Habitable land: 45.0%
Farmable land: 16.0%
Total population: 989 thousands
Population's growth: 3.1%
Country's development level: 2,920
Economic Data
GNP: 1,000,000,000
Industralisation: 25.5%
International funding: 0
Political Data
Secret services efficiency: 615
Military Data
Technological generation: 1
Number of rebels: 316
Rebels development: 2,628
Rebels technological access: 2,043