ome. A journalist from the state television station assigned to the chief opposition candidate, Ousainou Darboe, was arrested. Additionally, Jammeh said, "I will develop the areas that vote for me, but if you don't vote for me, don't expect anything [1]." On the 21st and 22 March 2006, amid tensions preceding the 2006 presidential elections, an alleged planned military coup was uncovered. President Yahya Jammeh was forced to return from a trip to Mauritania, many suspected army officials were arrested, and prominent army officials, including the army chief of staff, fled the country. There are claims circulating that this whole event was fabricated by the President incumbent for his own purposes; however, the veracity of these claims is not known, as no corroborating evidence has yet been brought forward. 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 was 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. President Jammeh incurred widespread condemnation from the international community from his comments on May 15, 2008, warning gays in The Gambia to leave the country within 24 hours or else face beheading. [2] [edit] Media Critics have accused the government of restricting free speech. A law passed in 2002 created a commission with the power to issue licenses and imprison journalists; in 2004, additional legislation allowed prison sentences for libel and slander and cancelled all print and broadcasting licenses, forcing media groups to re-register at five times the original cost [3][4]. Three Gambian journalists have been arrested since the coup attempt. It has been suggested that they were imprisoned for criticizing the government's economic policy, or for stating that a former interior minister and security chief was among the plotters. [5] [6]. Newspaper editor Deyda Hydara was shot to death under unexplained circumstances, days after the 2004 legislation took effect. Licensing fees are high for newspapers and radio stations, and the only nationwide stations are tightly controlled by the government [7]. Reporters Without Borders has accused "President Yahya Jammeh’s police state" of using murder, arson, unlawful arrest and death threats against journalists. [8][9]. [edit] Divisions and districts Main articles: Divisions of The Gambia and Districts of The Gambia The Gambia is divided into five divisions and one city. These are:[3] Lower River (Mansa Konko) Central River (Janjanbureh) North Bank (Kerewan) Upper River (Basse) Western (Brikama) The national capital, Banjul, is classified as a city. The divisions are further subdivided into 37 districts. Of these, Kombo Saint Mary (which shares Brikama as a capital with the Western division) may have been administratively merged with the greater Banjul area.[4] [edit] Geography Main article: Geography of The Gambia Map of The Gambia The Gambia is a very small and narrow country whose borders mirror the meandering Gambia River. The country is less than 48 km wide, with a total area of 11,300 km². Its present boundaries were defined in 1889 after an agreement between the United Kingdom and France. It is almost an enclave of Senegal, and is the smallest country on the continent of Africa. [edit] Economy Main article: Economy of The Gambia The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance on groundnuts (peanuts) for export earnings, a re-export trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry. Agriculture accounts for 29% of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs 75% of the labour force. Within agriculture, peanut production accounts for 6.9% of GDP, other crops 8.3%, livestock 5.3%, fishing 1.8%, and forestry 0.5%. Industry accounts for 12% of GDP. Manufacturing, which accounts for 5.5% of GDP, is primarily agriculturally based (e.g., peanut processing, bakeries, a brewery, and a tannery). Other manufacturing activities include soap, soft drinks, and clothing. Services account for 19% of GDP. The UK and the other EU countries (Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium) were the major source of imports, at 60% of the total share of imports, followed by Asia at 23%, and Cote d'Ivoire and other African countries at 17%. The Gambia reports 11% of its exports going to and 14.6% of its imports coming from the United States. [edit] Demographics Main article: Demographics of The Gambia A wide variety of ethnic groups live in The Gambia with a minimum of intertribal friction, each preserving its own language and traditions. The Mandinka tribe is the largest, followed by the Fula, Wolof, Jola, and Serahule. The approximately 3,500 non-African residents include Europeans and families of Lebanese origin (roughly 0.23% of the total population). Muslims constitute more than 90% of the population. Christians of different denominations account for most of the remainder. Gambians officially observe the holidays of both religions. More than 63% of Gambians live in rural villages (1993 census), although more and more young people come to the capital in search of work and education. Provisional figures from the 2003 census show that the gap between the urban and rural populations is narrowing as more areas are declared urban. While urban migration, development projects, and modernization are bringing more Gambians into contact with Western habits and values, the traditional emphasis on the extended family, as well as indigenous forms of dress and celebration, remain integral parts of everyday life. [edit] Tourism The tourism industry today in The Gambia started when a party of 300 Swedish tourists arrived in 1965.[1] That pioneering trip was organized by a Swede named Bertil Harding together with the tour operators Vingresor. It was seen as an ideal place to escape the harsh winter months of Scandinavia where Europeans would enjoy not only sun, sand and beaches but also experience the excitement of a real African holiday. Moreover due to its proximity to Europe, it also offered new opening for an affordable holiday to increasing numbers of traveling Europeans. The number of visitors increased from 300 tourists in 1965 to 25,000 visitors in 1976.[5] The number of tourists has continued to rise sharply throughout the years, and as the government is eager to diversify the economy, it recognized tourism as a potential major foreign exchange source of revenue. However, despite increasing popularity as a tourist destination, infrastructure development has been slow. [edit] Popular attractions Banjul Juffure Bakau Kachikally Janjanbureh [edit] Other facts The Gambia was the first and last British colony in West Africa. In his 1977 Pulitzer Prize-winning book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, Alex Haley traced his family back to Kunta Kinte, enslaved from the village of Juffure on the north bank of The Gambia. En route to Casablanca for a conference and then to Liberia, U. S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first serving U. S. president to visit the African continent when he stopped in Banjul in 1943.[10] In the 1930s, The Gambia was a transit point for the German airline Lufthansa's transatlantic mail service. Three aircraft were lost during this period [11]. Yundum Airport was an emergency landing site for NASA space shuttles.[12] "The" was inserted into the country's official name to further distinguish it from Zambia.[citation needed] [edit] Miscellaneous topics Music of The Gambia Communications in The Gambia List of birds of The Gambia Public holidays in The Gambia Transport in The Gambia Military of The Gambia Ninki Nanka [edit] References ^ a b Background Note: The Gambia: Political Conditions, United States Department of State/Bureau of African Affairs, 2006-03. Beginning with "After World War II", the History section of The Gambia article as of this edit is a virtual copy, but as a work of the United States Department of State, is in the public domain. ^ Easton P Education and Koranic Literacy in West Africa IK Notes on Indigenous Knowledge and Practices, n° 11, World Bank Group 1999 p1-4 ^ The Gambia - Government. The World Factbook (2006-09-19). Retrieved on 2006-09-29. ^ Gwillim Law (2006-04-19). Divisions of Gambia. Administrative Divisions of Countries ("Statoids"). Retrieved on 2006-09-29. ^ Lonely Planet: The Gambia & Senegal [edit] External links The Gambia portal Find more about The Gambia on Wikipedia's sister projects: Dictionary definitions Textbooks Quotations Source texts Images and media News stories Learning resources State House and Office of the President [13] Wikimedia Atlas of the Gambia Gambia travel guide from Wikitravel Wikia has a wiki on this subject: the Gambia the Gambia entry at The World Factbook The Gambia at the Open Directory Project v • d • e Countries of Africa West Africa Benin · Burkina Faso · Cape Verde · Côte d'Ivoire · The Gambia · Ghana · Guinea · Guinea-Bissau · Liberia · Mali · Mauritania · Niger · Nigeria · Senegal · Sierra Leone · Togo North Africa Algeria · Egypt1 · Libya · Mauritania · Morocco · Sudan · Tunisia · Western Sahara Central Africa Angola · Burundi · Cameroon · Central African Republic · Chad · Democratic Republic of the Congo · Equatorial Guinea · Gabon · Republic of the Congo · Rwanda · São 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Cunha) · South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands · Turks and Caicos Islands Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Gambia" Categories: The Gambia | African Union member states | Economic Community of West African States | Members of the Commonwealth of Nations | Least Developed Countries | English-speaking countries and territoriesHidden categories: All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements Views Article Discussion Edit this page History Personal tools Log in / create account if (window.isMSIE55) fixalpha(); Navigation Main Page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Interaction About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Donate to Wikipedia Help Search   Toolbox What links here Related changes Upload file Special pages Printable version Permanent linkCite this page Languages Afrikaans Alemannisch ???? ??????? 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