The Gambia

Why trade or invest in the Gambia?

The Gambia is a country of stability and development in West Africa mostly surrounded by Senegal with a short strip of its coastline bordered with the Atlantic Ocean at its western end.

English is the official language of the Gambia. Other languages are Mandinka, Wolof, Fula, Serer, Krio and other indigenous vernaculars. Knowledge of French (an official language in much of West Africa) is relatively widespread.  The Gambia is situated on either side of the Gambia River, the nation's namesake, which flows through the centre of the Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Its area is 10,689 square kilometres (4,127 sq mi) with a population of 2,28 milion (2018). Banjul is the Gambian capital, and the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.

Denmark, the United States, and China have become important source countries for Gambian imports. The UK, Germany, Ivory Coast, and the Netherlands also provide a fair share of Gambian imports. The Gambian trade deficit for 2007 was $331 million.  The Gambia is a member of the African Union, ACP, involved in production, agriculture and international trade such as AfDB, ABEDA, FAO, G77, IBRD, ITSO, ITUC, IPU, IDB, MIGA, NAM, OIC, OPCW. Trade balance between Belgium and The Gambia stands at 18,7 million EURO for 2019, with exports such as Machinery & equipment, Transport equipment, Food items and imports such as Fat and oils, Vegetable products and Base metals.

The Gambia has a liberal, market-based economy characterized by traditional subsistence agriculture, a historic reliance on groundnuts (peanuts) for export earnings, a re-export trade built up around its ocean port, low import duties, minimal administrative procedures, a fluctuating exchange rate with no exchange controls, and a significant tourism industry.

The World Bank pegs Gambian GDP for 2011 at US$898M, GDP was US$1.3 Billion in 2018 ; the International Monetary Fund puts it at US$977M for 2011.  From 2006 to 2012, the Gambian economy grew annually at a pace of 5–6% of GDP.

Credendo (European credit insurance group headquartered in Brussels, Belgium) upgraded Gambia from 7/7 to 6/7 for SHORT-TERM POLITICAL RISK in October 2017. This was upgraded again from 6/7 to 5/7 in June 2019, see country risk overview - Gambia.

In May 2019, the IMF stated the following about the country: "The Gambia is experiencing a strong economic recovery, with good prospects for continued medium-term growth. In the two years since President Barrow's government took office, the Gambia's economy has rebounded , with growth of over 6½ percent in 2018. "

Some particularities of the Gambia legal system you should know

The Gambia's legal system is based on a tripartite system: English law, including the common law and principles of equity and statute law; customary law, which is administered by district tribunals; and Islamic/Shari’a law, which is administered by a Cadi Court system. The latter two systems apply only to indigenous Gambians and/or Muslims.

There have also been efforts to modernize the law, the judiciary and the administration of justice generally. Dispute resolution through the court system has been greatly accelerated in 2010. An ADR system has been introduced and indications are that it should have a positive impact on the pace at which disputes and litigation are resolved.  A faculty of law has been introduced at The Gambia University.

The judiciary is rich with judges from The Gambia, Nigeria and other African countries.

Whom we work for

A-Law experienced lawyers and legal counsels welcome all clients in need of legal advice including NGO, company registration, legal defense with regard to the investment and trade projects in or from The Gambia.  Guiding foreign investors into the Gambian corporate and bank regulations, license requests and public procurement policies may constitute a challenge on its own.

A-Law has built up international expertise and assisted multiple companies providing engineering, IT, construction, logistics services in EU and non EU countries involving i.a. tax, labor, migration and IP issues.  A-Law International desk has been providing legal support to clients in different areas, such as real estate issues, corporate and civil (family) law, traffic law, migration law, liability law and debts recovery (bankruptcy, administrative fines).

An in-depth approach of the different legal aspects of cross border cooperation and trade, commercial agency, distribution and franchising of a wide variety of products exported from or imported into Africa have been assessed through A-Law dedicated team.

The Gambia legal system 

Court Structure in The Gambia are divided into two categories namely, Superior Courts (which comprises of Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, Special Criminal Court, and Cadi Appeal Panel) and Subordinate Courts (consisting of Magistrates' Court, Children's Court, Cadi Court, District Tribunals, Industrial Tribunal and Rent Tribunal) and important to note that  lower courts or tribunals may be established by an Act of National Assembly when and where necessary.

The Gambia is a member of various international court systems including but not limited to ECOWAS Community Court of Justice and African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights. The President has announced that the country will rejoin the International Criminal Court (ICC) following a decision in October, 2016 to withdraw her membership by his predecessor. In 2018 Gambia also rejoined the Commonwealth.

Part of the efforts undertaken by the government to reform and modernize the existing laws, judiciary and the general justice delivery system and administration includes, the introduction of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system and capacitisation of Judiciary Staff, Lawyers and Law Enforcement Officers through training. Judiciary in particular, has seen a significant boost in the staffing of courts with highly competent Judges and Magistrates from The Gambia and other common law jurisdictions. This has greatly enhanced the independent and timely dispensation of justice at all levels within the justice delivery system.