Gambia Declares Itself an 'Islamic Republic'

According to the President of Gambia, the governance system of the country has changed to an 'Islamic Republic.' Yahya Jammeh, the President of Gambia, announced on Friday, December 20, during a broadcast on the state television, that 'since the majority of the people in this country are Muslims, Gambia cannot continue its colonial legacy.' The President stated that no specific dress code will be imposed on the citizens of this country, and followers of other religions will also be free to continue practicing their faith. 95% of Gambia's population of 1.8 million consists of Muslims. Before Gambia, four countries—Pakistan, Mauritania, Iran, and Afghanistan—had declared their governments as 'Islamic Republics' in the years 1956, 1960, 1979, and 2004, respectively, bringing the total number of such countries in the world to five. Yahya Jammeh has held the title of President of Gambia for 21 years. In 2013, he withdrew Gambia from the Commonwealth of Nations, calling its system 'neo-colonialism.' In recent years, despite trade relations between this country and Britain, Gambia's relations with Western countries have soured, and in this context, the European Union also suspended financial aid to the country last year due to the 'dire human rights situation.'