Aminet 6/Aminet 6 - June 1995.iso/Aminet/docs/misc/wfbook93_texi.lha/texi/86.data

Text File | 1995-03-27 | 8.5 KB | 344 lines

@node Geography (The Gambia)
@section Geography (The Gambia)

@display

Location:
  Western Africa, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean almost completely
  surrounded by Senegal
Map references:
  Africa, Standard Time Zones of the World
Area:
 total area:
  11,300 km2
 land area:
  10,000 km2
 comparative area:
  slightly more than twice the size of Delaware
Land boundaries:
  total 740 km, Senegal 740 km
Coastline:
  80 km
Maritime claims:
 contiguous zone:
  18 nm
 continental shelf:
  not specified
 exclusive fishing zone:
  200 nm
 territorial sea:
  12 nm
International disputes:
  short section of boundary with Senegal is indefinite
Climate:
  tropical; hot, rainy season (June to November); cooler, dry season (November
  to May)
Terrain:
  flood plain of the Gambia River flanked by some low hills
Natural resources:
  fish
Land use:
 arable land:
  16%
 permanent crops:
  0%
 meadows and pastures:
  9%
 forest and woodland:
  20%
 other:
  55%
Irrigated land:
  120 km2 (1989 est.)
Environment:
  deforestation
Note:
  almost an enclave of Senegal; smallest country on the continent of Africa



@end display

@node People (The Gambia)
@section People (The Gambia)

@display

Population:
  930,249 (July 1993 est.)
Population growth rate:
  3.07% (1993 est.)
Birth rate:
  46.85 births/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Death rate:
  16.1 deaths/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Net migration rate:
  0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1993 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
  126.3 deaths/1,000 live births (1993 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
 total population:
  49.61 years
 male:
  47.41 years
 female:
  51.87 years (1993 est.)
Total fertility rate:
  6.35 children born/woman (1993 est.)
Nationality:
 noun:
  Gambian(s)
 adjective:
  Gambian
Ethnic divisions:
  African 99% (Mandinka 42%, Fula 18%, Wolof 16%, Jola 10%, Serahuli 9%, other
  4%), non-Gambian 1%
Religions:
  Muslim 90%, Christian 9%, indigenous beliefs 1%
Languages:
  English (official), Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, other indigenous vernaculars
Literacy:
  age 15 and over can read and write (1990)
 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%
 note:
  55% population of working age (1983)



@end display

@node Government (The Gambia)
@section Government (The Gambia)

@display

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)
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
National holiday:
  Independence Day, 18 February (1965)
Political parties and leaders:
  People's Progressive Party (PPP), Dawda K. JAWARA, secretary general;
  National Convention Party (NCP), Sheriff DIBBA; 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
Suffrage:
  21 years of age; universal
Elections:
 House of Representatives:
  last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held by March 1992); results - PPP
  56.6%, NCP 27.6%, GPP 14.7%, PDOIS 1%; seats - (43 total, 36 elected) PPP
  31, NCP 5
 President:
  last held on 11 March 1987 (next to be held March 1992); results - Sir Dawda
  JAWARA (PPP) 61.1%, Sherif Mustapha DIBBA (NCP) 25.2%, Assan Musa CAMARA
  (GPP) 13.7%
Executive branch:
  president, vice president, Cabinet
Legislative branch:
  unicameral House of Representatives
Judicial branch:
  Supreme Court
Leaders:
 Chief of State and Head of Government:
  President Alhaji Sir Dawda Kairaba JAWARA (since 24 April 1970); Vice
  President Saihou SABALLY (since NA)
Member of:
  ACP, AfDB, C, CCC, ECA, ECOWAS, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA,
  IDB, IFAD, IFC, IMF, IMO, INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, OIC, UN,
  UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in US:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Ousman A. SALLAH



@end display

@node Government (The Gambia 2. usage)
@section Government (The Gambia 2. usage)

@display

 chancery:
  Suite 720, 1030 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20005
 telephone:
  [phone] or 842-1359
US diplomatic representation:
 chief of mission:
  Ambassador Arlene RENDER
 embassy:
  Pipeline Road (Kairaba Avenue), Fajara, Banjul
 mailing address:
  P. M. B. No. 19, Banjul
 telephone:
  [220] 92856 or 92858, 91970, 91971
 FAX:
  (220) 92475
Flag:
  three equal horizontal bands of red (top), blue with white edges, and green



@end display

@node Economy (The Gambia)
@section Economy (The Gambia)

@display

Overview:
  The Gambia has no important mineral or other natural resources and has a
  limited agricultural base. It is one of the world's poorest countries with a
  per capita income of about $325. About 75% of the population is engaged in
  crop production and livestock raising, which contribute 30% to GDP.
  Small-scale manufacturing activity - processing peanuts, fish, and hides -
  accounts for less than 10% of GDP. Tourism is a growing industry. The Gambia
  imports one-third of its food, all fuel, and most manufactured goods.
  Exports are concentrated on peanut products (about 75% of total value).
National product:
  GDP - exchange rate conversion - $292 million (1991 est.)
National product real growth rate:
  3% (1991)
National product per capita:
  $325 (1991 est.)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  12% (1992 est.)
Unemployment rate:
  NA%
Budget:
  revenues $94 million; expenditures $80 million, including capital
  expenditures of $25 million (FY91 est.)
Exports:
  $133 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  peanuts and peanut products, fish, cotton lint, palm kernels
 partners:
  Japan 60%, Europe 29%, Africa 5%, US 1%, other 5% (1989)
Imports:
  $174 million (f.o.b., FY91 est.)
 commodities:
  foodstuffs, manufactures, raw materials, fuel, machinery and transport
  equipment
 partners:
  Europe 57%, Asia 25%, USSR and Eastern Europe 9%, US 6%, other 3% (1989)
External debt:
  $336 million (December 1990 est.)
Industrial production:
  growth rate 6.7%; accounts for 5.8% of GDP (FY90)
Electricity:
  30,000 kW capacity; 65 million kWh produced, 75 kWh per capita (1991)
Industries:
  peanut processing, tourism, beverages, agricultural machinery assembly,
  woodworking, metalworking, clothing
Agriculture:
  accounts for 30% of GDP and employs about 75% of the population; imports
  one-third of food requirements; major export crop is peanuts; other
  principal crops - millet, sorghum, rice, corn, cassava, palm kernels;
  livestock - cattle, sheep, goats; forestry and fishing resources not fully
  exploited
Economic aid:
  US commitments, including Ex-Im (FY70-89), $93 million; Western (non-US)
  countries, ODA and OOF bilateral commitments (1970-89), $535 million;
  Communist countries (1970-89), $39 million
Currency:
  1 dalasi (D) = 100 bututs
Exchange rates:
  dalasi (D) per US$1 - 8.673 (October 1992), 8.803 (1991), 7.883 (1990),
  7.5846 (1989), 6.7086 (1988), 7.0744 (1987)



@end display

@node Economy (The Gambia 2. usage)
@section Economy (The Gambia 2. usage)

@display

Fiscal year:
  1 July - 30 June



@end display

@node Communications (The Gambia)
@section Communications (The Gambia)

@display

Highways:
  3,083 km total; 431 km paved, 501 km gravel/laterite, and 2,151 km
  unimproved earth
Inland waterways:
  400 km
Ports:
  Banjul
Airports:
 total:
  1
 usable:
  1
 with permanent-surface runways:
  1
 with runways over 3,659 m:
  0
 with runways 2,440-3,659 m:
  1
 with runways 1,220-2,439 m:
  0
Telecommunications:
  adequate network of radio relay and wire; 3,500 telephones; broadcast
  stations - 3 AM, 2 FM; 1 Atlantic Ocean INTELSAT earth station



@end display

@node Defense Forces (The Gambia)
@section Defense Forces (The Gambia)

@display

Branches:
  Army, Navy, National Gendarmerie, National Police
Manpower availability:
  males age 15-49 201,026; fit for military service 101,642 (1993 est.)
Defense expenditures:
  exchange rate conversion - $NA, NA% of GDP



@end display