December 13, 2018
The Gambia
The Gambia (“Gambia”) is a small West African country
Figure 1. Gambia at a Glance
almost entirely surrounded by Senegal. It underwent a
historic transition of power after longtime authoritarian
leader Yahya Jammeh unexpectedly lost an election in
December 2016. A brief political crisis over Jammeh’s
refusal to step down was resolved when a regional military
intervention forced Jammeh into exile, enabling President-
elect Adama Barrow to take office. Barrow’s inauguration
contributed to a trend in West Africa in which heads of
state are increasingly chosen through elections.
A political outsider who once worked as a security guard in
London, President Barrow has overseen a significant
improvement in Gambia’s governance and relations with

the international community. Analysts warn that Gambia’s
Source: CRS. Data from CIA World Factbook and the International
Monetary Fund (IMF); 2017 estimates unless otherwise indicated.
progress remains fragile, and that moves to enact reforms

and prosecute abuses committed under the former regime
The Barrow Administration
could stoke tensions, particularly within the military.
Barrow’s agenda has centered on improving governance
and human rights conditions and mending ties with the
U.S.-Gambia relations have warmed under President
international community. He has pardoned scores of
Barrow. Bilateral ties were previously strained due to U.S.
political prisoners and appointed a committee to revise the
criticism of Gambia’s poor human rights record and the
constitution. He also has sought to repatriate wealth that
involvement of U.S. nationals in a failed coup attempt
Jammeh allegedly hid overseas. With support from
against Jammeh in 2014. The Trump Administration has
ECOWAS, the European Union (EU), and U.N. agencies,
pledged new health and governance aid—though Gambia
Barrow also has embarked on security sector reforms
remains a minor aid recipient within Africa—and has
intended to curb impunity and reduce the size of the army.
invoked legislation enacted by Congress to impose targeted
In late 2018, Barrow launched a Truth, Reconciliation, and
sanctions on Jammeh and his immediate family members.
Reparations Commission (TRRC), tasked with uncovering
Background and the 2016 Elections
abuses by the former regime, awarding reparations, and
recommending perpetrators for amnesty or prosecution.
President Barrow’s surprise election transformed Gambian
politics, which Jammeh had dominated since seizing power
Justice and reform initiatives could stir discontent or
in a 1994 coup d’état. Jammeh won elections in 1996 and
unrest—particularly if they are construed as targeting the
was re-elected three times—most recently in 2011, in polls
Jola ethnic group (roughly 10% of the population), which
that international observers described as neither free nor
formed Jammeh’s political base and constitutes a large
fair. An authoritarian and erratic leader, Jammeh sharply
proportion of the military. Police have arrested several
curtailed civil liberties and suppressed dissent.
members of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), a tool
of repression under the former regime, for the 2016 murder
Restrictions and a crackdown on protests marred the
of an opposition figure. In 2017, a notorious former Interior
electoral environment in advance of the 2016 polls. With
Minister was arrested in Switzerland; he could face trial in
top figures in prison, Gambia’s fractious opposition
Gambia or Switzerland. Gambian authorities also have
ultimately coalesced around Barrow, a businessman and
brought charges against several military personnel,
political newcomer. Barrow secured a narrow victory in
including soldiers accused of plotting to overthrow Barrow.
polls that international bodies endorsed as fair and credible.
Jammeh initially conceded defeat, but later rejected the
Jammeh has eluded prosecution despite calls from civil
results. Mediation by the Economic Community of West
society that he face trial. Barrow has reportedly expressed
African States (ECOWAS) failed to resolve the impasse.
readiness to demand Jammeh’s extradition, but officials in
Equatorial Guinea, where he lives in exile, have pledged to
In January 2017, troops from Senegal, Ghana, and Nigeria
reject such a request. Polling by Afrobarometer, a survey
entered Gambia under an ECOWAS mandate, at which
group, suggests that Gambians are divided about whether
point Jammeh agreed to resign and accept exile in
the government should pursue his prosecution. Jammeh
Equatorial Guinea. Barrow, who had fled to Senegal out of
could also face charges outside Gambia. In 2018, officials
concern for his personal safety, returned to take office in
in Ghana agreed to consider new evidence concerning his
late January 2017.
alleged involvement in the 2005 killing of dozens of West
African migrants, including Ghanaians, in Gambia.
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The Gambia
President Barrow, who has pledged to serve a three-year
ties with Senegal were strained due to Jammeh’s alleged
transitional term and step down in late 2019, appears
support for Senegalese separatist rebels.
popular among Gambians. A Gallup poll released in August
2018 found that 72% of respondents approved of his
Barrow has reversed Jammeh’s decisions to withdraw from
leadership. Strong showings in 2017 legislative and 2018
the International Criminal Court and the Commonwealth.
local elections by the United Democratic Party (UDP)—the
Donors have resumed funding, with the EU, the World
ruling coalition’s largest constituent party, which Barrow
Bank, the IMF, and others pledging tens of millions of
headed until resigning to run as a coalition candidate—
dollars in new aid and loans. EU interests partly focus on
suggest support for his government’s agenda. Nonetheless,
stemming the disproportionately high numbers of Gambians
some analysts warn that the ruling coalition could fracture
seeking to migrate to Europe via the Mediterranean.
amid criticism that Barrow has favored the UDP over other
Gambia’s regional ties also have improved. Senegalese
coalition partners. Barrow has reshuffled his cabinet,
President Macky Sall visited Gambia in March 2018, and
elevating UDP leader Ousainou Darboe to the vice
the two countries have signed several cooperative
presidency and stripping posts from other parties.
agreements. ECOWAS troops (most of them Senegalese)
remained deployed in the country as of late 2018.
Human Rights Conditions
Barrow has overseen a substantial opening of political and
U.S. Relations and Assistance
social space. During Jammeh’s tenure, annual State
U.S.-Gambian relations have markedly improved since
Department human rights reports documented widespread
Barrow’s election. In late 2017, President Trump reinstated
abuses against citizens, including torture, arbitrary arrest,
Gambia’s eligibility for preferential trade benefits under the
enforced disappearances, and indefinite detention. The
African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA; Title I, P.L.
regime targeted journalists, dissidents, and other critics. The
106-200, as amended), which President Obama terminated
international community expressed particular concern over
in 2014. Also in late 2017, the Millennium Challenge
discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
Corporation (MCC), which suspended Gambia from
transgender (LGBT) persons, including laws criminalizing
consideration in 2006 due to governance and human rights
homosexuality and abuses against individuals arrested on
concerns, selected Gambia for an MCC Threshold program.
suspicion of being gay. One law imposed a life sentence for
The State Department also has lifted a suspension on visa
“aggravated homosexuality,” a category that included
issuances to Gambian state officials imposed in 2016 due to
engaging in same-sex relations while having HIV/AIDS.
Gambia’s failure to issue passports to a reported 1,800
Gambians awaiting deportation from the United States; the
Under Barrow, journalists have returned from exile, and
Department cited progress toward accepting the deportees.
private media have burgeoned. Human rights challenges
persist, however, including episodic abuses by security
In 2017, the Administration imposed targeted financial and
forces, harsh prison conditions, and trafficking in persons.
travel sanctions on former President Jammeh and associated
businesses under an Executive Order (E.O.) pertaining to
The Economy
global corruption and human rights abuses. The E.O. is
Gambia is one of the world’s poorest states. According to
premised, in part, on authority granted by Congress under
the International Monetary Fund (IMF), per capita gross
the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act
domestic product (GDP) was $704 in 2017. Three-quarters
(§1261 of P.L. 114-328). Separately, pursuant to §7031(c)
of the labor force are engaged in agriculture, and Gambia is
of the FY2018 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 115-
highly dependent on regional re-exports of manufactured
141) pertaining to foreign kleptocrats and human rights
and consumer goods, peanut and seafood exports, beach
abusers, the State Department in late 2018 imposed a visa
tourism, and remittances. The economy has experienced
ban on Jammeh and his immediate family.
alternating growth and contraction in recent years, with a
sharp slowdown in 2016 widely attributed to a poor harvest
U.S. bilateral aid is limited to a small annual provision for
and drop in tourism during the political crisis. The IMF
International Military Education and Training (IMET).
projects growth to exceed 5.4% in 2018 owing to a surge in
Gambia also has received periodic emergency humanitarian
public investment backed by increased donor engagement.
aid. State Department assistance totaled $26,000 in
FY2017, with $150,000 annually requested for IMET in
The government’s 2018-2021 National Development Plan
FY2018 and FY2019 to support security sector reform. The
prioritizes measures to stabilize the economy, enhance
State Department and USAID, whose Administrator Mark
agricultural production, develop infrastructure, boost
Green visited Gambia in May 2018, also have initiated
tourism, and foster private sector growth through regulatory
several small programs to promote health system
reform. Key challenges include public debt valued at over
strengthening, economic development, anti-corruption
120% of GDP as of mid-2018, according to the IMF.
efforts, and civil society capacity, drawing on regionally-
and centrally-managed funds. As of late 2018, Gambia
Foreign Relations and Donor Assistance
hosted 91 Peace Corps Volunteers who implement projects
Gambia’s foreign relations under Jammeh were often tense.
related to agriculture, education, and health.
He pulled Gambia out of the Commonwealth in 2013, and
alienated donors by claiming to have discovered a cure for
Tomas F. Husted, Analyst in African Affairs
AIDS. The EU halted development aid to Gambia in 2014
Alexis Arieff, Specialist in African Affairs
due to concerns over anti-LGBT legislation. Meanwhile,
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The Gambia


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