GOVERNMENT
The 1970
constitution, which divided the government into independent executive,
legislative, and judicial branches, was suspended after the 1994
military coup. As part of the transition process, the AFPRC established
the Constitution Review Commission (CRC) through decree in March
1995. In accordance with the timetable for the transition to a
democratically elected government, the commission drafted a new
constitution for The Gambia, which approved by referendum in August
1996. The constitution provides for a strong presidential government,
a unicameral legislature, an independent judiciary, and the protection
of human rights.
Local
government in The Gambia varies. The capital city, Banjul and
the much larger Kanifing Municipality have elected town and municipal
councils. Five rural divisions exist, each with a council containing
a majority of elected members. Each council has its own treasury
and is responsible for local government services. Tribal chiefs
retain traditional powers authorized by customary law in some
instances.
POLITICAL CONDITIONS
Before the coup d'état in July 1994, The Gambia was one of the oldest existing multi-party democracies in Africa. It had conducted freely contested elections every 5 years since independence. After the military coup, politicians from deposed President Jawara's People's Progressive Party (PPP) and other senior government officials were banned from participating in politics until July 2001.
The People's Progressive Party (PPP), headed by former president Jawara, had dominated Gambian politics for nearly 30 years. After spearheading the movement toward complete independence from Britain, the PPP was voted into power and was never seriously challenged by any opposition party. The last elections under the PPP regime were held in April 1992.
Following the coup in July 1994, a presidential election took place in September 1996, in which retired Col. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh won 56% of the vote. The legislative elections held in January 1997 were dominated by the APRC, which captured 33 out of 45 seats. In July 2001, the ban on Jawara-era political parties and politicians was lifted. Four registered opposition parties participated in the October 18, 2001, presidential election, which the incumbent, President Yahya Jammeh, won with almost 53% of the votes. The APRC maintained its strong majority in the National Assembly in legislative elections held in January 2002, particularly after the main opposition United Democratic Party (UDP) boycotted the legislative elections.
President Jammeh won the September 2006 elections with 67% of the vote while the opposition alliance won a total of 27%. In the January 2007 parliamentary elections, Jammeh’s APRC won 42 of the available 48 seats. While both the September and January elections were declared free and fair, several sources have reported increased oversight of journalists in the preceding months. A failed coup in March 2006 had a major effect on The Gambia’s political climate. Since then President Jammeh has taken far-reaching steps to maintain power.
Principal
Government Officials
President--Yahya Abdulaziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh
Vice President--Isatou Njie-Saidy
Ambassador-designate to the United States--Tamsir Jallow
UN Representative--Omar Touray
The
Gambia maintains an embassy at 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 905,
Washington, DC 20005. Tel. (202) 785-1399. Its UN mission is located
at 820 2nd Avenue, Suite 900-C, New York, NY 10017. Tel. (212)
949-6640.
Type: Republic.
Independence: February 18, 1965.
Constitution: January 16, 1997.
Branches: National Assembly; Executive; Judiciary.
Subdivisions: Capital and five divisions.
Political parties: Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), United Democratic Party (UDP), National Reconciliation Party (NRP), National Convention Party (NCP), Peoples Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), National Democratic Action Movement (NDAM), and the Gambia Party for Democracy and Progress.
