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90-598: The population of the city proper is 31,301, with the Greater Banjul Area , which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council, at a population of 413,397 (2013 census). The island is connected to the mainland to the west and the rest of Greater Banjul Area via bridges. There are also ferries linking Banjul to the mainland at the other side of the river. From the 19th century until 24 April 1973,

180-437: A garbage truck that collects waste from each household weekly. It uses a digital ticket system to pay for the service. Informal waste collectors use donkey-drawn carts to collect waste from households that are not covered by the project. In 2022, KMC estimated it collected 460 tons of waste per day, of which 57.5% came from households, though this data is imprecise. The city has 370 waste management workers, of whom 227 are under

270-756: A solar energy training program. The primary method of reaching the city by land is by road. A highway connects Banjul to Serrekunda which crosses the Denton Bridge , however ferries provide another mode of transportation. As of May 2014, ferries sail regularly from Banjul across the Gambia River to Barra . The city is served by the Banjul International Airport . Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau , which will eventually provide

360-565: A 40-square-kilometre (15 sq mi) area that was called British Kombo and was later renamed Kombo St. Mary. It annexed another French cession in 1853. Kombo St. Mary was part of the Gambia Colony. The Protectorate Ordinances, which was passed between 1894 and 1902, transferred Kombo St. Mary to the administration of the Gambia Protectorate . It returned to the Gambia Colony in 1946. The local government area (LGA) of Kombo St. Mary

450-556: A Gendarme. In particular, Minteh recalled Jammeh's "ruthless and disrespectful encounter" with sergeant major Kebba Dibba, and when he "brandished a pistol and threatened to shoot" a captain named Ebrima Camara simply on the basis of his ethnicity. He joined the Gambian National Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant on 29 September 1989, serving as the officer in charge (OIC) of the Presidential Escort, part of

540-775: A bus depot in Kanifing. Bensouda's government has planned an urban bus system with 50 buses and 20 routes. Kanifing has most of the country's tertiary education institutes, including the University of The Gambia , the American International University West Africa , the Gambia Technical Training Institute , and the Management Development Institute . Construction of Kanifing's library began on 18 August 2022. It will be

630-443: A businessman with close ties to Jammeh in 1999, The Daily Observer became notably pro-Jammeh. In August 2000, the anti-government Radio 1 FM suffered an arson attack. Abdoulaye Saine states that Jammeh was able to use Gambia Radio & Television Service as his personal propaganda outlet whenever he required. Jammeh had made a number of public statements against the press. In July 2000, he said that "anybody bent on disturbing

720-450: A crowd during an agricultural tour: "If you do it [in the Gambia] I will slit your throat – if you are a man and want to marry another man in this country and we catch you, no one will ever set eyes on you again, and no white person can do anything about it." This prompted a fresh round of condemnation from international human rights leaders. US National Security Advisor Susan Rice released

810-410: A fourth term in office, reportedly having received 72% of the popular vote. One of Jammeh's consistent targets throughout his time as President was the press and the media, as a whole as well as individual journalists. In 1998, the independent Citizen FM radio station was forced to close after a number of its staff were arrested and its equipment was confiscated. After its American proprietor sold it to

900-528: A military garrison, had been ordered by Charles MacCarthy . Grant founded Banjul as a trading post and base, constructing houses and barracks for controlling entrance to the Gambia estuary and suppressing the slave trade . The British renamed Banjul Island as St. Mary's Island and named the new town Bathurst, after the 3rd Earl Bathurst , Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time. Streets were laid out in

990-516: A modified grid pattern, and named after Allied generals at the Battle of Waterloo . The town became the centre of British activity in the Gambia Colony and Protectorate . Within a few years of its establishment, the town started attracting migrants. Its population consisted of Africans of various origins, Levantines (Syrians, Lebanese) as well as Europeans (English, French, Portuguese). A majority of

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1080-628: A one-sided electoral contest in which Jammeh was the assured ‘winner’." Decree no. 89, issued on 14 August, reiterated the ban on the PPP , the NCP and the GPP , but lifted the ban on the PDOIS and the PDP . In 1996, on 28 August, Jammeh was formally promoted to the rank of colonel and then retired from the army on 6 September, one month before the 1996 presidential election. Jammeh won

1170-827: A paved highway link to 11 other nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Attractions in the city include the Gambian National Museum , the Albert Market , Banjul State House , Banjul Court House , African Heritage Museum. Banjul is the destination of the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge , a charity road rally. The University of the Gambia was founded in 1999. The places of worship are predominantly Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and congregations: Roman Catholic Diocese of Banjul ( Catholic Church ), Church of

1260-571: A shift towards authoritarianism , demonstrated in particular by his policies towards anti-government journalists, LGBT+ people and opposition parties. His foreign policy led to constant difficulties with the country's sole neighbour, Senegal . In 2013, Jammeh withdrew the Gambia from the Commonwealth of Nations and in 2016 he began the process of withdrawing the country from the International Criminal Court , one year after he declared

1350-605: A single dose herbal infusion that could treat high blood pressure . Jammeh has also claimed to develop a treatment for infertility in women as part of what is called the President's Alternative Treatment Program (PATP). August and October 2005 saw a border feud with Senegal over increased ferry prices for crossings over the Gambia River . Jammeh has a close relationship with Jolas in the Casamance region of Senegal , who allowed him to "rule with impunity". In turn, Jammeh supported

1440-687: A statement of condemnation on 16 May 2015: "We condemn his comments, and note these threats come amid an alarming deterioration of the broader human rights situation in the Gambia", said Rice. "We are deeply concerned about credible reports of torture, suspicious disappearances – including of two American citizens – and arbitrary detention at the government's hands". In January 2007, Jammeh claimed he could cure HIV/AIDS and asthma with natural herbs. His claimed treatment program includes instructing patients to cease taking their anti-retroviral drugs. His claims have been criticised for promoting unscientific treatment that could have dangerous results, including

1530-460: A third term in the presidential election held on 22 September 2006; the election was initially planned for October but was moved forward because of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan . He was re-elected with 67.3% of the vote and was declared the winner of the election; the opposition candidate Ousainou Darboe finished second, as in 2001. In November 2011, Jammeh was again re-elected as president for

1620-693: Is being promoted as a human right by some powers," who "want to put an end to human existence." On 18 February 2014, Jammeh called homosexuals "vermins" by saying that: "We will fight these vermins [ sic ] called "homosexuals" or "gays" the same way we are fighting malaria-causing mosquitoes, if not more aggressively". He also went on to disparage the LGBT by saying that "As far as I am concerned, LGBT can only stand for Leprosy , Gonorrhoea , Bacteria and Tuberculosis , all of which are detrimental to human existence". In May 2015, in defiance of Western criticism, Jammeh intensified his anti-gay rhetoric, telling

1710-514: Is divided into two districts: Banjul is the country's economic and administrative centre and includes the Central Bank of the Gambia . Peanut processing is the country's principal industry, but beeswax , palm wood , palm oil , and skins and hides are also shipped from the port of Banjul. Banjul is also the home of the Gambia Technical Training Institute . GTTI is engaged in a partnership with non-profit organization Power Up Gambia to develop

1800-479: Is further divided into seventy-four sub-wards, each led by a sub-ward chairman. The municipality has seven parliamentary constituencies : Serekunda East , Serekunda West , Serekunda Central , Jeshwang , Bakau , Latrikunda Sabiji , and Tallinding . Talib Ahmed Bensouda  [ de ] , a member of the United Democratic Party , was elected Lord Mayor of Kanifing in the 2018 election , and

1890-619: Is now living in exile in Equatorial Guinea . His assets around the world have been frozen by many countries amidst additional accusations of stealing millions of dollars from his country to fund a life of luxury. Jammeh has denied the allegations against him. Jammeh was born on 25 May 1965 in Kanilai , a village in the Foni Kansala district of the Western Division of the Gambia. He is

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1980-523: Is the main commercial area of the Gambia, and is the district with the highest concentration of industry, hosting a large industrial estate. Most of the Gambia's hotels and coastal resorts lie within the municipality, as does Independence Stadium , the national football stadium. While government administration is an important part of the economy, 50.8% of the workforce is employed in the private sector. Altogether, 32.5% of workers are in wholesale and retail trade, 13% in manufacturing and 17.5% in services. Of

2070-572: The 1996 presidential election as the APRC candidate, winning 56% of the vote and beating Ousainou Darboe , Hamat Bah and Sidia Jatta . Darboe was forced to seek refuge in the Senegalese embassy in Banjul, fearing an assassination plot. In the 1997 parliamentary election , the first to the new National Assembly put in place by the 1996 constitution, the APRC won a majority of seats. However, these two elections,

2160-603: The Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) was formed with Jammeh as its chairman. Jammeh promised that it would be a "coup with a difference", and that the country would be returned to civilian rule "as soon as we have set things right". One result of the coup was that the European Union and the United States, the major donors of foreign aid to the Gambia, suspended their aid programmes until

2250-514: The First Liberian Civil War . The 1994 coup d'etat in the Gambia, overthrowing the government of Sir Dawda Jawara, represented a reversal in the general trend in sub-Saharan Africa after 1989 away from authoritarianism and towards multiparty politics. The Gambia had previously represented an anomaly in Africa as one of the few countries that had a functioning democracy prior to 1989. In

2340-543: The Köppen climate classification , Banjul features a tropical wet and dry climate ( Aw ). The city features a lengthy dry season , spanning from November to May and a relatively short wet season covering the remaining five months. However, during those five months, Banjul tends to see heavy rainfall. August is usually the rainiest month, with on average 350 millimetres or 14 inches of rainfall. Maximum temperatures are somewhat constant, though morning minima tend to be hotter during

2430-766: The Mandinka people gathered on the island. In 1651, Banjul was leased by the Duke of Courland and Semigallia ( German : Herzog von Kurland und Semgallen ) from the King of Kombo , as part of the Couronian colonization . On 23 April 1816, Tumani Bojang , the King of Kombo , ceded Banjul Island to Alexander Grant , the British commandant, in exchange for an annual fee of 103 iron bars. Grant's expedition, consisting of 75 men and tasked with establishing

2520-531: The National Sports Council . Kanifing is twinned with: Madison has provided funding for Kanifing's garbage trucks and its public library. Yahya Jammeh President of the Gambia Government parliamentary election local elections others Family Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (born 25 May 1965) is a Gambian politician and military dictator who overthrew

2610-576: The State House of the Gambia , the official presidential residence. Local media quickly identified them as having entered the country from neighbouring Senegal under the command of Lt Col. Lamin Sanneh. Yahya Jammeh ran away and was out of the country, with sources differing on whether he was in France or Dubai . However, with the gunmen failing to consolidate control, the coup failed. Jammeh returned to Gambia

2700-459: The United States from September 1993 to January 1994. Jammeh was one of the four junior Army officers who organised the 1994 coup d'etat against Sir Dawda Jawara 's government. The other three were Sana Sabally , Sadibou Hydara and Edward Singateh . The coup, which took place on 22 July 1994, was successful and bloodless, leading to Jawara fleeing into exile. Four days later, on 26 July,

2790-810: The Crime Management Coordinator of KMC is Pateh Bah, who has held the position since its creation in 2017 by the Adama Barrow administration. The Law Court Complex in Bundung houses the High Court, the Magistrates Court, and the Cadi Court. Kanifing Magistrates Court functions as the Children's Court on Tuesdays and Thursdays, despite the constitution providing for a full-time juvenile court . Kanifing

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2880-519: The ESU and 143 are under the Mbalit project, As of 2022 . Bensouda called waste management his number-one priority as mayor. KMC developed a five-year waste management plan (2017 to 2021) in consultation with the community and the private sector. It focussed on public awareness, new waste-sorting strategies, expanded household waste collection, job creation, and partnerships with informal waste management. It created

2970-669: The Gambia Christian Council for delivery to the Christian community. Jammeh also bankrolled university education for the less privileged both in the Gambia and abroad. Taiwan was once the "financial lifeline" for Jammeh's regime, providing financial support as part of its campaign for international recognition at the United Nations . Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou visited the Gambia during Jammeh's presidency. However, Jammeh later cut ties with Taiwan. On 10 and 11 April 2000,

3060-447: The Gambia's immigrants and 35% of the country's internal migrants. The total number of immigrants was 33,790, of whom 34% were from Senegal and 25% were from Guinea. In Kanifing and Banjul, the Wolof language is spoken as a lingua franca in multi-ethnic groups, rather than Mandinka as in the rest of the country. Kanifing has 19 settlements: Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) is led by

3150-624: The Gambian government to produce one journalist who had disappeared. In April 2016, at least 50 people were arrested during a demonstration, and there were fears that Solo Sandeng , an opposition politician, died alongside two others while being held in detention. In July 2016, a Gambian opposition leader and another 18 people were sentenced to three years in jail for participation in the April demonstration. A Gambian diplomat publicly denied that Sandeng had died in custody. On 30 December 2014, gunmen attacked

3240-534: The Junglers, a paramilitary unit commanded by Jammeh, in the 2005 killings of 50–60 West African migrants, mostly Ghanians , destined for Europe. This corroborates 2018 findings by Human Rights Watch and TRIAL International on the same incident, but contradicts an unpublished UN/ECOWAS report that attributed the killings to rogue security personnel. According to defence and National Intelligence Agency officials who testified to TRRC, these migrants were detained in

3330-670: The LGA's 251,712 people who are 15 or older, 122,726 are in the labour force , including 108,474 who are employed and 14,252 who are unemployed. The unemployment rate among workers aged 15 to 35 is 6.5%, relatively low for the Gambia, although within this age range over 20% of those with higher education are unemployed. Child labour affects 3.5% of children aged 5–11, 9.7% aged 12–14, and 14.6% aged 15–17. Bensouda's government has planned an affordable housing project to build 8,000 homes. The Local Government Act (the Gambia) 2002 gives municipalities

3420-467: The Lord Mayor of Kanifing, who has administrative duties. Ward councillors manage social and economic duties. KMC is divided into 18 wards: Abuko, Bakau New Town, Bakoteh, Bantaba Bore Hole, Bartez, Bundung Six Junction, Dippa Kunda, Fajikunda, Kanifing, Kololi, Latrikunda Sabiji, London Corner, Manjai Kotu, New Jeshwang/Ebo Town, Old Bakau/Cape Point, Old Jeshwang, Tallinding North, and Tallinding South. It

3510-605: The Mbalit project, the first household-waste-collection programme in the Gambia. With a grant from the European Union , Bensouda launched the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Programme (KETP), which donated waste-collection equipment to the initiative. It set up 10 communal skip bins and reduced the number of illegal dumpsites from 65 to 17. The programme's success improved the government's image. The Gambia Transport Service Company , which runs international buses to Dakar and Bissau , has

3600-606: The NCC's report, two of the original coup leaders, Sabally and Hydara, launched an unsuccessful attempt to overthrow Jammeh as chairman. Subsequently, Edward Singateh was appointed as vice-chairman of the AFPRC, and Hydara died in prison on 3 June. The Constitutional Review Commission (CRC) was appointed in April 1995 and reported to the government in November 1995. Its report was published in March 1996

3690-541: The Newspaper (Amendment) Bill 2004 required newspaper proprietors to purchase expensive operating licenses and forcing them to register their homes as security . A number of individual journalists were also targeted. In December 2004, Deyda Hydara , then editor of The Point , announced his intention to publicly challenge newly-introduced legislation restricting press freedoms. He was shot and killed when driving home in Banjul on 16 December, leading to thousands protesting on

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3780-835: The Presidential Guards, from 1989 to 1990. In 1991, he served as the officer commanding (OC) the Mobile Gendarmerie, and from 1992 to 1994 was the OC of the Gambia National Army Military Police. On 1 February 1992, he had been promoted to lieutenant. Jammeh was the head of security detail attached to Pope John Paul II during his visit to the Gambia in February 1992. He attended the Military Police Officers Basic Course (MPOBC) at Fort McClellan in

3870-546: The Province of West Africa ( Anglican Communion ), Assemblies of God . Kanifing Kanifing is a municipality, local government area and district in the Gambia. It is part of the Greater Banjul Area , to the west of Banjul , and is governed by Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). The population of Kanifing expanded in the post-colonial era, and it is now one of the country's most-densely populated places and its most-populated district. It received many migrants from

3960-592: The Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP) was created by Jammeh to help eradicate poverty among Gambians, improve agricultural production, and sponsor educational opportunities for needy students. The foundation has a hospital that is sponsored by the president and provides medical services to the general public. Donations in 2012 included $ 2,563,138 to the National Youths Conference and Festival, and "two truckloads of turkey" to

4050-460: The activities of the press. The Newspaper Act 1994 imposed criminal penalties on private publications that failed to pay a yearly registration fee. The National Media Communication Act 2000 forced journalists to reveal confidential sources to police and the judiciary on demand. In December 2004, the Criminal Code (Amendment) Bill 2004 allowed prison terms for defamation and sedition. The same month,

4140-416: The aftermath of the coup, Jammeh governed by decree alongside four other junior officers and several civilians. He banned all political activity, arrested two socialist journalists, and detained several of his Army superiors. He also confined ministers of Jawara's government under house arrest . On 17 October, Jammeh announced that there would be a four-year transition to civilian government. In November 1994,

4230-655: The alleged witch-hunting campaign had been sparked by the President Yahya Jammeh, who believed that the death of his aunt earlier that year could be attributed to witchcraft. These crimes were influenced by Bissauguinean president João Bernardo Vieira 's assassination on 2 March 2009. Newspaper reports list dozens of individuals who have disappeared after being picked up by men in plain-clothes, and others who have languished under indefinite detention for months or years without charge or trial. The regional Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) court ordered

4320-484: The availability of jobs fuelled by British colonial activities as well as social activities such as cinemas. Young men from rural farming villages would move to Bathurst to work at the Public Works Department (established in 1922) or docks. The town was an important Allied naval and air hub during World War II , resulting in an increase in population from 14,370 in 1931 to 21,154 in 1944. After independence,

4410-417: The ban would face a prison sentence of up to three years. After the end of Ramadan and Eid ul-Fitr in July 2016, Jammeh further announced a ban on child marriages . In 2016, some 30% of women were married while under the age of 18. Yahya Jammeh's response was that anyone caught marrying a girl under 18 years of age would be jailed for up to twenty years. As President, Jammeh had significant influence over

4500-613: The biggest violator of the human and civic rights of ordinary Gambian citizens is beyond my comprehension. Capt. Bunja Darboe (rtd) In April 1984, Jammeh joined what was then the Gambian National Gendarmerie as a private . He was part of the Special Intervention Unit from 1984 to 1986 and was an escort training instructor at the Gendarmerie Training School from 1986 to 1989. He was promoted to sergeant in April 1986, and to cadet officer in December 1987. A former Gendarmerie officer, Binneh S. Minteh, later claimed that Jammeh "had always singled out Mandinkas as bad people" during his time as

4590-423: The city was known as Bathurst . There are several etymologies for 'Banjul.' One traditional history recounts that Bandjougou, son of Barafin, came to the island after fleeing the attacks of Soumaoro Kante on the Manding region . His name became attached to the island, and over time changed to 'Bandjoulou'. Another theory claims that Banjul takes its name from Bang julo , the Mandinka word for rope fibre that

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4680-535: The climate of Banjul in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of Bamako in Mali . The annual temperature would increase by 2 °C (3.6 °F), and the temperature of the warmest month by 3.3 °C (5.9 °F), while the temperature of the coldest month would actually decrease by 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). According to Climate Action Tracker , the current warming trajectory appears consistent with 2.7 °C (4.9 °F), which closely matches RCP 4.5. Banjul Division (Greater Banjul Area)

4770-473: The common entrance (CE) exam, he was awarded a government scholarship to Gambia High School in Banjul , in 1978. His formal education ended after he was successful in his O Levels in 1983. In those days, he used to defend the rights of many Gendarmes who for one reason or another had felt apart with the Gendarmerie command and administration and were brought to the [Military Police] for either investigation or punishment. What actually makes him changed into

4860-401: The country was returned to civil rule. Jammeh claimed the suspension of aid programmes amounted to " neocolonialism ". A Western diplomat who spoke to The New York Times said, "This is exactly the same phenomenon we have seen elsewhere, with the only difference being that so far there has been no violence." In particular, the coup was compared with Samuel Doe 's in the Liberia , which led to

4950-456: The country's demographics. Islamic schools called dara were founded in Bathurst from its early years, resulting in the foundation of the first Muslim court in 1905, in addition to the increasingly more sophisticated British legal framework. Bathurst was officially declared the capital of the Protectorate of the Gambia in 1889, leading to an increase in population. Through the 20th century, it became an even greater attraction for Gambians due to

5040-417: The country's first municipal library. It is an initiative of Bensouda and the KETP, with funding from Peterborough City Council in England. The project cost 45 million dalasi . The Kanifing Municipal Sports Committee (KM Sport) is one of the Gambia's seven regional sports organisations. Its chairperson, who is elected from the chairpersons of its constituent district sport committees, represents Kanifing in

5130-507: The country's largest urban area, is in Kanifing. Kanifing Municipality has a population of 377,134, as of the 2013 census, making it the country's most-populated and most-densely populated district. The 2023 population estimate is 391,270, the sex ratio is 1:1 and the mean household size is 6.7. There are 40,367 people (11.63% of the population) in poverty, 3,340 (1.0%) in extreme poverty , and 117,648 (33.9%) in food poverty . The predominantly rural Mandinka people moved to cities in

5220-436: The country's urbanisation rate from 23% in 1973 to 37% in 1993. This expansion led to higher property values and foreign investment. Kanifing is one of the eight LGAs of the Gambia , and is only one that contains only one district . The LGA has a land area of 75.5 km (29.2 sq mi). It lies immediately west of the capital city Banjul ; this joint conurbation is known as the Greater Banjul Area. Serekunda ,

5310-469: The deaths and other injuries. The commission also said that five soldiers of the 2nd Infantry Battalion were responsible for the deaths of two students at Brikama . The government stated that the report implicated several PIU officers in the students' deaths and injuries, but those responsible were not prosecuted. Testimony to the Gambia's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) between 2019 and 2021 implicated Gambian military officials and

5400-462: The dump but it is sometimes blocked by waterlogging in the rainy season. Many residents of the area around the dumpsite make a living from informal recycling . KMC has planned to establish a new dumpsite and turn the old one into a transfer station . In 2021, it conducted a pilot program to compost the organic waste in the dump and convert it to biofuel . The Mbalit project (meaning waste in Wolof) collects household waste; it assigns each ward

5490-422: The elected government and became President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017, as well as Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 1994 to 1996. Jammeh was born in Kanilai , in West Coast Region of the Gambia , and is a Muslim of the Jola ethnic group . He attended Gambia High School in Banjul from 1978 to 1983 and served in the Gambian National Gendarmerie from 1984 to 1989. He

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5580-494: The execution orders to Jammeh himself. The Jammeh administration proceeded to cover up the incident from Ghana and ECOWAS. In March 2009 Amnesty International reported that up to 1,000 Gambians had been abducted by government-sponsored " witch doctors " on charges of witchcraft , and taken to government detention centres where they were forced to drink dirty water with poisonous herbs; this left several captives with sequelae . On 21 May 2009, The New York Times reported that

5670-418: The first following the transition from military to civil rule, were "marred by provisions of the new, doctored constitution, an electoral commission appointed by Jammeh alone in 1995 and a political network that included the Green Boys – a now-disbanded vigilante group that was mobilised to intimidate the electorate to ensure Jammeh’s ‘victory’." Saine argues that this combination of intimidation and harassment of

5760-403: The government was accused of the killing of 14 students and a journalist during a student demonstration to protest the death of a student in the Gambia. Jammeh was accused of ordering the shooting of the students, but the government denied the allegations. A government commission of inquiry reportedly concluded that the Police Intervention Unit (PIU) officers were "largely responsible" for many of

5850-476: The head" of any gay or lesbian person discovered in the country. News reports indicated his government intended to execute all homosexuals in the country. In a speech given in Tallinding, Jammeh gave a "final ultimatum" to any gays or lesbians in the Gambia, warning them to leave the country. In a speech to the United Nations on 27 September 2013, Jammeh said "[h]omosexuality in all its forms and manifestations which, though very evil, antihuman as well as anti-Allah,

5940-479: The infection of others by those who thought they had been cured by the method. In December 2011, he restated during an interview that the alleged cure for HIV/AIDS was "going very well". Fadzai Gwaradzimba , the country representative of the United Nations Development Programme in the Gambia, was told to leave the country after she expressed doubts about the claims and said the remedy might encourage risky behaviour. In August 2007, Jammeh claimed to have developed

6030-564: The judiciary in the Gambia, particularly because Section 98 of the 1996 constitution permits the President to appoint judges directly. Saine argues that Jammeh's employment of judges mainly from other Commonwealth countries allowed him to effectively issue tough sentences to reduce dissent and to imprison both real and perceived threats to the president's power. On 15 May 2008, Jammeh announced that his government would introduce legislation that would set laws against homosexuals that would be "stricter than those in Iran ", and that he would "cut off

6120-429: The largest landfill in the country, collects all waste from the Greater Banjul Area. It was created as part of a defunct mining operation. It is overfilled and does not have modern disposal systems. It is located in a densely populated area near Bakoteh, Dippa Kunda and Manjai Kunda. The dumpsite's environmental impacts include methane fires, water contamination, and odour. The city hires bulldozers to transport waste to

6210-402: The nation an Islamic republic . All three decisions were later rescinded by successor government, despite Jammeh's supporters arguing that his foreign policy encouraged self-sufficiency and anti-colonialism. Jammeh has been accused of serious human rights violations, such as murder, rape and torture, as highlighted in the final report of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission . He

6300-437: The opposition, an inherent bias provided by the 1996 constitution, as well as a distinct financial advantage, meant that "the presidential and national assembly elections were lost long before the first ballot was cast." Jammeh founded the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction as his political party. He was elected as president in September 1996. Foreign observers did not deem these elections free and fair. He

6390-574: The peace and stability of the nation [should] be buried six feet deep." In April 2004, Jammeh told journalists to obey his government "or go to hell". In June 2005, he said that he had allowed "too much freedom of expression" in the Gambia. In response to his suppression of the press and media in the Gambia, various online newspapers and radio stations were established by self-exiled Gambian journalists to publicise alleged government atrocities. These include Freedom Newspaper , The Gambia Echo and Gainako . Jammeh also saw through legislation to restrict

6480-623: The population was Muslim but there was a significant Christian minority, including the Aku inhabitants . The majority of the Africans consisted of Wolof people , whose population rose from 829 in 1881 to 3,666 in 1901 and then 10,130 in 1944. They had mainly hailed from Gorée and Saint-Louis . The Mandinka were the second largest African group, followed by the Jola as well as the Fula . The Serer people make up 3.5% of

6570-450: The post-colonial era. Kanifing's share of the Gambia's Mandinka population increased from 3% in 1963 to 16% in 1993. In 1993, Kanifing had about a third of the country's Jola people , about a quarter of Serahuli people , nearly a third of Serer people , and the majority of Aku people . It had nearly half of the country's Christians. The population has grown through both internal migration and immigration, being home in 2013 to 30% of

6660-855: The rebels in the Casamance conflict , by engaging in the trade of illegal drugs, small arms, and also money-laundering with the rebel groups. Shortly after the outbreak of the Guinea-Bissau Civil War in June 1998, Jammeh sought a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He personally canvassed regional opinion on the war in Cape Verde , Mauritania , Guinea and Senegal. He also sent Momodou Lamin Sedat Jobe , his foreign minister, to meet with rebel leader Ansumane Mané to attempt to arrange peace talks in Banjul, though these efforts were fruitless. According to The Daily Observer , on 10 December 2012, Jammeh secured

6750-559: The release of Senegalese soldiers who had been held as hostages by rebels. He sent a delegation to meet with Senegalese president Macky Sall in early December 2012. The delegation's goal was to discuss a resolution to the ongoing civil unrest in Senegal's southern region of Casamance. Members of the delegation included the Minister of Presidential Affairs, the US ambassador to the Gambia, and members from

6840-451: The responsibility for waste management . The Environment and Sanitation Unit (ESU), part of KMC's Directorate of Services, is responsible for waste and other environmental health issues. The ESU performs daily street cleaning and collects market waste and waste from public facilities, and clears illegal dumps. KMC, which spends 25% of its budget on waste management, has no official waste-separation or recycling programmes. Bakoteh Dumpsite ,

6930-473: The rest of the Gambia and abroad. Kanifing is the economic centre of the Gambia, and Serekunda is its largest population center. Tourism is a major industry, and here are several higher education institutes, including the University of the Gambia . Sayerr Jobe founded Serekunda , the first settlement in the forested area, in the nineteenth century. He helped establish other settlements in Kanifing, including Bundung and Ebo Town . In 1840, France ceded

7020-417: The same month when Jammeh was formally promoted to the rank of captain, there was an unsuccessful coup attempt by several disaffected young officers leading to numerous deaths, but Jammeh remained in power. The National Consultative Committee (NCC) was appointed on 7 December to review the transition process, and when they reported on 27 January 1995, they recommended a two-year transition period. The same day as

7110-580: The son of Aja Fatou Ashombi Bojang, a housewife and trader, and Abdul Aziz James Junkung Jammeh, a career wrestler. Jammeh's grandparents migrated to the Gambia from the Casamance region of Senegal . He had a rural upbringing as part of a Muslim Jola family, primarily focused in Kanilai. One of his closest childhood friends was reportedly Mustapha James Kujabi. He attended Kanilai primary school, Saint Edwards primary school in Bwiam , from 1972 to 1978. After passing

7200-460: The streets. Some pointed at the government, led by Jammeh, as the murderers, but it has remained unsolved. Furthermore, in July 2006, Ebrima Manneh of The Daily Observer was arrested by state security after attempting to publish a BBC report critical of Jammeh. His arrest was witnessed by his coworkers, and, despite being ordered to release Manneh by an ECOWAS court, the government denied that Manneh

7290-417: The town of Barra on 22 July 2005, and then tortured in various detention centers around Banjul. The bodies of eight of the migrants were found near Ghana Town the following day, while two people escaped but disappeared on 24 July. The 40–45 survivors were summarily executed in Senegal, across the southern border from Jammeh's hometown of Kanilai, except for one survivor. Ex-Junglers who testified attributed

7380-443: The town's name was changed to Banjul in 1973. On 22 July 1994, Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'état in which President Sir Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by Yahya Jammeh . To commemorate this event, Arch 22 was built as an entrance portal to the capital. The gate is 35 metres tall and stands at the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum . Banjul features hot weather year round. Under

7470-472: The wet season than the dry season. According to a Gambian government minister, Banjul is at risk of submerging under water by a metre rise in sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming. A 2019 paper published in PLOS One estimated that under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 , a "moderate" scenario of climate change where global warming reaches ~2.5–3 °C (4.5–5.4 °F) by 2100,

7560-491: Was created in the 1960s from part of the Brikama LGA, and was the eighth LGA to be established. Kombo Rural Authority was renamed Kanifing Urban District Council in 1974 and Kanifing Municipal Council in 1991. Kanifing grew significantly in the post-colonial era. This was largely caused by immigration from nearby countries; in 1993, foreign nationals made up 20% of the LGA's population. Kanifing's growth led to an increase in

7650-514: Was put to a national referendum on 8 August 1996. The new constitution, which provided for multiparty elections, an unlimited number of five-year presidential terms, and a lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18, was approved by a majority of 70%. According to Gambian American author Abdoulaye Saine , Jammeh would "[enjoy] unrivalled political and economic power as a consequence of the new constitution. In contrast, opposition political parties [would be] sidelined and allowed little political space in

7740-412: Was re-elected in the 2023 election . He is the son of lawyer Amie Bensouda . Talib Ahmed Bensouda succeeded Yankuba Colley as Lord Mayor. The Deputy Mayor of KMC is Binta Janneh Jallow, who is the first woman to hold the position. Jallow, who was previously the ward councillor of Bakau New Town, was appointed to the post in July 2021 to replace Pa Musa Bah, who had resigned. As of February 2024 ,

7830-412: Was re-elected on 18 October 2001 with about 53% of the vote; this election was generally deemed free and fair by observers, despite some very serious shortcomings ranging from overt government intimidation of voters to technical innovations (such as raising the required deposit to stand for election by a factor of 25) to distort the process in favour of the incumbent regime. A coup attempt against Jammeh

7920-537: Was reported to have been thwarted on 21 March 2006; Jammeh, who was in Mauritania at the time, quickly returned home. Army chief of staff Col. Ndure Cham , the alleged leader of the plot, reportedly fled to neighbouring Senegal , while other alleged conspirators were arrested and were put on trial for treason. In April 2007, ten former officers accused of involvement were convicted and given prison sentences; four of them were sentenced to life in prison. Jammeh ran for

8010-556: Was still imprisoned. An unnamed police source said that he believed Manneh "is no longer alive". Both Amnesty International and the Committee to Protect Journalists have called for his release. In 1999, Jammeh called those who campaigned against female genital mutilation (FGM) "enemies of Islam". In December 2015, Jammeh banned FGM in the Gambia, labelling the practice as having "no place in Islam or in modern society"; anyone that ignored

8100-510: Was then commissioned as an officer of the Gambian National Army , commanding the Military Police from 1992 to 1994. In July 1994, he came to power by leading a bloodless coup d'etat that overthrew the elected government of Sir Dawda Jawara . At first ruling by decree, he was elected president in the 1996 election . Jammeh was re-elected as president in 2001 , 2006 and 2011 , but lost to Adama Barrow in 2016 . His presidency oversaw

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