The Gambia, the smallest nation on continental Africa, is almost entirely surrounded by Senegal except for its Atlantic coastline. Its geography is largely defined by the Gambia River, which meets the Atlantic Ocean at its capital Banjul. A former British colony, it has experienced relatively little internal stability but has suffered from poor governance and economic inequality.

Politics: A New Era Under Barrow?

After two decades of dictatorial rule, Gambia’s political landscape drastically changed when in 2016 the Yahya Jammeh was unexpectedly defeated by Adama Barrow in an election. Although initially conceding, Jammeh eventually rejected the results of the election and sought to stay in power. An ECOWAS intervention, involving Ghana, Senegal and Nigeria, was able to ensure a transfer of power. Even though the human rights situation improved in the first years under Barrow, reform has been slow and in recent years concerns have risen that Gambia is sliding back into autocracy. In addition, Gambia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, with over half of the population living below the poverty line, which is a major source of frustration among its youthful population. It is vital for Gambia to retain political and democratic stability to effectively address these socioeconomic grievances.