Gambia, The¶
- Area
- Africa
- Coins
- 4
The Republic of The Gambia is Africa's smallest country. It is a narrow strip -- between 11 and 32 km wide -- that follows the Gambia river from the Atlantic Ocean for 322 km into West Africa. It is completely surrounded by Senegal. Gambia's history is marked by three centuries of slave trading, during which it is estimated 3 million people were taken through this area. Portuguese slave traders first came in the 15th century when it was part of the Kingdom of Mali. Britain purchased the territory in 1588 and created the first British colony in Africa. Fort James, a British slave trading centre, was established about 20 km up the river in 1664. Around this time, and through the 18th century, Britian and France tussled over control of the area. The Treaty of Versailles granted the area to Britain in 1783, and in 1888 The Gambia became a British Colony. Independence was achieved in 1965 as a consitutional monarchy in the Commonwealth of Nations. In 1970, the Republic of Gambia was formed. It remained politically stable for many years, surviving an unsuccessful coup attempt in 1981. In 1994, a military coup overthrew the government but by 2002 a democratic government was re-established. Today The Gambian economy relies on peanut exports and tourism.
