Gambia

The Republic of the Gambia is a small, narrow West African country with a largely Muslim population, located on the Gambia River. Almost all sides of the 4,361 square mile (1 square mile = 2.59 square kilometers) country are surrounded by Senegal. The majority of Gambia's 1.7 million residents (2010 United Nations estimate), according to the 2003 census, belong to the Mandinka (42%), Fulani (18%), Wolof (16%), Jola (10%), and Serahuli (9%) ethnolinguistic groups. Nationally recognized languages include the official language, English, and the locally spoken Mandinka, Wolof, and Fula. Gambia gained independence from Britain in 1965 and briefly was involved in the federation of Senegambia with Senegal from 1982 to 1989. Today, Senegal and Gambia are on mostly cooperative terms, engaged in trade agreements ...