Africa > Gambia, The > Government

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Administrative divisions 5 divisions and 1 city*; Banjul*, Central River, Lower River, North Bank, Upper River, Western
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	13 27 N, 16 34 W
Constitution approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; effective 16 January 1997
Corruption	2.7		[103rd of 160]
Diplomatic representation from the US > Mailing address	P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the president
Executive branch > Chief of state President Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH (since 18 October 1996); note - from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta; Vice President Isatou NJIE-SAIDY (since 20 March 1997); note - the president is both the chief of state and head of government
Flag description three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green
Government type	republic
Independence 18 February 1965 (from UK)
Judicial branch	Supreme Court
Legal system based on a composite of English common law, Islamic law, and customary law; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations
Legislative branch unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 members elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; to serve five-year terms)
Parliamentary seats > Female	2%		[133rd of 143]
Political parties and leaders Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the ruling party) [Yahya A. J. J. JAMMEH]; Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP [Henry GOMEZ]; National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD [Halifa SALLAH]; 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]; United Democratic Party or UDP [Ousainou DARBOE]
Status	pseudo-democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to start a business > days	27 days		[111st of 171]
Trademarks, residents	2		[75th of 98]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International attempts to stem refugees, cross-border raids, arms smuggling, and other illegal activities by separatists from southern Senegal's Casamance region, as well as from conflicts in other west African states

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