Gambia Military

Gambia is a West African country located in the Gambia River Basin. With a population of around 2,097,000 people, it is one of the smallest countries in Africa. Gambia is a republic and its military consists of two branches: the Gambian Army and National Gendarmerie. The Gambian Armed Forces are responsible for defending the country’s borders and sovereignty, as well as providing security to its citizens. In terms of defense spending, Gambia spends approximately $6 million annually on its military, making it one of the lowest defense spending nations in Africa. The country also participates in several United Nations (UN) peacekeeping missions such as those in Somalia and South Sudan. Gambia is also a member of both the African Union (AU) and Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and has close ties with other AU members such as Sierra Leone and Guinea-Bissau. See naturegnosis to learn more about the country of Gambia.

Defense

The defense of Gambia comprises 800 men enlisted and is organized into two battalions and four patrol vessels (2008). Defense costs decreased in 1985-2005 from 3.9% to 0.4% of GDP. To see related acronyms about this country, please check ABBREVIATIONFINDER where you can see that WAG stands for Gambia.

Gambia Army

Following a moratorium of nearly 30 years, in August 2012, Gambia executed 9 death sentences without shooting – including 2 Senegalese nationals. In October, the Supreme Court upheld the death sentences for treason over 7 men who in 2010 were convicted of “plans to overthrow the government.” International observers were barred from entering the courtroom. By the end of the year, 36 were on death row in the country’s prisons. In August, Foreign Minister Mambury Njie had opposed the execution of the death penalty over the nine. He was immediately dismissed and arrested in October by the security police for “financial crimes”.

Gambia’s interior minister announced in a televised speech in October 2013 that the country was withdrawing from the British Commonwealth with immediate effect. It no longer wanted to be a member of a neo-colonial institution. It was the first time since 2003 when Zimbabwe left the state community that a former colony opted out.

On November 14, 2013, the Gambia recognized China. In response, Taiwan severed diplomatic relations with the Gambia 4 days later.

  • COUNTRYAAH: Do you know where is Gambia on the world map? Come to see the location and all bordering countries of Gambia.

In October 2014, President Jammeh signed a new law on “aggravated homosexuality” with a life sentence. The law was very vaguely worded and could in effect be applied to all real or supposed LGBT people. The law triggered international condemnation. Jammeh didn’t care. In May 2015, he said at a public meeting: “If they do (in Gambia), I’ll cut their throats. If you are a man and want to get married to another man in our country and we get hold of you, then there will never be anyone to see you again and no whites will be able to change that ». The threats sparked new international condemnation.

The human rights situation remains uncertain. The intelligence, the army, the police and the president’s own security forces – the so-called “Ninjas” – routinely arrest members of the opposition, human rights activists, journalists and former security officials. Torture and abuse are widespread.