Government and Politics of The Gambia

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 2017); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government head of government: President Adama BARROW (since 19 January 2017); Vice President Mohammed JALLOW (since 2023); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the president elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term; election last held on 4 December 2021 (next to be held in December 2026) election results: Adama BARROW reelected president; percent of vote - Adama BARROW 53.2%, Ousainou DARBOE 27.7%, Mamma KANDEH 12.3%

Legislative Branch

unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms) elections: last held 17 January 2002 (next to be held February 2007) election results: percent of vote by party - NA; seats by party - APRC 45, PDOIS 2, NRP 1,

Judicial Branch

Supreme Court

Political Parties

Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC - the ruling party [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambian People's Party-Progressive People's Party-United Democratic Party or GPP-PPP-UDP Coalition [Ousainou DARBOE]; National Convention Party or NCP [Sheriff DIBBA]; National Reconciliation Party or NRP [Hamat N. K. BAH]; People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia JATTA] note: in August 2001, an independent electoral commission allowed the reregistration of the GPP, NCP, and PPP, three parties banned since 1996

Head of State

President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH

Head of Government

President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH

Cabinet

Cabinet appointed by the president

Elections

president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits); election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Election Results

Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH reelected president; percent of vote - Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH 67.3%, Ousainou DARBOE 26.6%, Halifa SALLAH 6.0%

Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant) chancery: Suite 1000, 1156 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 785-1379 FAX: [1] (202) 785-1430

U.S. Diplomatic Representation

chief of mission: Ambassador Joseph D. STAFFORD, III embassy: Kairaba Avenue, Fajara, Banjul mailing address: P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul telephone: [220] 392856, 392858, 391971 FAX: [220] 392475

Capital City

Banjul

Location

13 27 N, 16 34 W

Time Difference

UTC 0 (5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

History

Banjul is located on Saint Mary's Island at the mouth of the Gambia River; the Mandinka used to gather fibrous plants on the island for the manufacture of ropes; "bang julo" is Mandinka for "rope fiber"; mispronunciation over time caused the term became the word Banjul

U.S. Embassy Banjul Address: The U.S. Embassy is located at 92 Kairaba Avenue in Fajara, a populated area and business center a few miles from the capital city of Banjul. The mailing address is P.M.B.19, Banjul, The Gambia. Telephone: 220-439-2856, 220-439-2858 and 220-439-1971 (available 24 hours a day) Facsimile: 220-439-2475 Work hours: Monday – Thursday 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.; Friday 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Military Branches

Office of the Chief of Defense Staff: Gambian National Army (GNA), Gambian Navy (GN), Republican National Guard (RNG)

Service Age and Obligation

18 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; service obligation 6 months