LaNUBlog™

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours it has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence. President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994 and has ruled with an iron fist ever since. Stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts. This has made The Gambia heavily dependent on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop. At a glance *.Politics: The Gambia has been relatively stable under the iron-fisted rule of Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1994 *.Economy: One of Africa's smallest countries has few natural resources and is highly dependent on peanut exports *.International: The Gambia is seen as an important transit point for ...

The Gambia is one of Africa's smallest countries and unlike many of its West African neighbours it has enjoyed long spells of stability since independence. President Yahya Jammeh seized power in a bloodless coup in 1994 and has ruled with an iron fist ever since. Stability has not translated into prosperity. Despite the presence of the Gambia river, which runs through the middle of the country, only one-sixth of the land is arable and poor soil quality has led to the predominance of one crop - peanuts. This has made The Gambia heavily dependent on peanut exports - and a hostage to fluctuations in the production and world prices of the crop. At a glance *.Politics: The Gambia has been relatively stable under the iron-fisted rule of Yahya Jammeh, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1994 *.Economy: One of Africa's smallest countries has few natural resources and is highly dependent on peanut exports *.International: The Gambia is seen as an important transit point for ...

The Gambia is to withdraw from the Commonwealth, 48 years after joining. The west African nation branded the 54-member grouping, which includes the UK and most of its former colonies, a "neo-colonial institution". The withdrawal was announced on state TV, but no other reasons were given. Two years ago President Yahya Jammeh accused the UK of backing his political opposition ahead of elections. The UK said it would "very much regret" The Gambia leaving the Commonwealth. There is a history of tension between President Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, and the UK. Earlier this year, a Foreign Office reportsingled out The Gambia for its human rights record, citing cases of unlawful detentions, illegal closures of newspapers and discrimination against minority groups. In August last year The Gambia was criticised by Amnesty International and others for executing nine prisoners by firing squad. 'Colonialism extension' The Commonwealth was founded i...