other indigenous
vernaculars

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1990 est.)
total population: 27%
male: 39%
female: 16%

Labor force: 400,000 (1986 est.)
by occupation: agriculture 75.0%, industry, commerce, and services
18.9%, government 6.1%

@The Gambia:Government

Names:
conventional long form: Republic of The Gambia
conventional short form: The Gambia

Digraph: GA

Type: republic under multiparty democratic rule

Capital: Banjul

Administrative divisions: 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Lower
River, MacCarthy Island, North Bank, Upper River, Western

Independence: 18 February 1965 (from UK; The Gambia and Senegal signed
an agreement on 12 December 1981 that called for the creation of a
loose confederation to be known as Senegambia, but the agreement was
dissolved on 30 September 1989)

National holiday: Independence Day, 18 February (1965)

Constitution: 24 April 1970

Legal system: based on a composite of English common law, Koranic law,
and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with
reservations

Suffrage: 21 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Armed Forces
Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since the
military coup of 22 July 1994); Vice Chairman of the Armed Forces
Provisional Ruling Council Capt. Edward SINGHATEH (since March 1995);
election last held on 29 April 1992; results - Sir Dawda JAWARA (PPP)
58.5%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 22.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA (GPP) 8.0%
(prior to the 22 July 1994 coup, next election was scheduled for April
1997)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the president from members of the House
of Representatives (present cabinet appointed by Chairman of the Armed
Forces Provisional Ruling Council)

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Representatives: elections last held on 29 April 1992 (next
to be held April 1997); results - PPP 58.1%; seats - (43 total, 36
elected) PPP 30, NCP 6

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda
K. JAWARA (in exile), secretary general; National Convention Party
(NCP), Sheriff DIBBA (in exile); Gambian People's Party (GPP), Hassan
Musa CAMARA; United Party (UP), leader NA; People's Democratic
Organization of Independence and Socialism (PDOIS), leader NA;
People's Democratic Party (PDP), Jabel SALLAH

Member of