The Gambia,officially the Republic of The Gambia,is a country in West Africa. It is the smallest country within mainland Africa and is surrounded by Senegal,except for its western coast on the Atlantic Ocean. The Gambia is situated on both sides of the lower reaches of The Gambia River,the nation's namesake,which flows through the centre of The Gambia and empties into the Atlantic Ocean,and elucidates the long shape of the country. It has an area of 11,300 square kilometres (4,400 sq mi) with a population of 1,857,181 as of the April 2013 census. Banjul is The Gambian capital and the country's largest metropolitan area,while the largest cities are Serekunda and Brikama.
The Gambia Armed Forces,also known as the Armed Forces of The Gambia,consists of three branches:the Gambia National Army (GNA),the Gambia Navy,and the Republican National Guard (RNG). It formerly included the Gambia National Gendarmerie (GNG) from the 1980s to 1996,when they were moved under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Interior. The commander-in-chief is the president of the Gambia who is currently Adama Barrow,whereas practical control is exercised by the Chief of the Defence Staff who is currently Lieutenant General Yankuba Drammeh.
Yahya Abdul-Aziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh is a Gambian politician and former military officer who was the leader of The Gambia from 1994 to 2017,firstly as chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) from 1994 to 1996 and then as President of the Gambia from 1996 to 2017.
Lang Tombong Tamba was the Chief of the Defense Staff of the Gambian Armed Forces until his arrest,detention and trial in an attempted coup.
The 2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt broke out during the night of 30 December 2014,when gunfire erupted in the Gambian capital of Banjul.
Sadibou Hydara was an important Gambian military and political leader who served in various international peacekeeping operations. He later served as the Gambia's Minister of Interior and government spokesman.
Adama Barrow is a Gambian politician and real estate developer who has served as President of the Gambia since 2017.
The Gambian constitutional crisis occurred following presidential elections in December 2016,in which challenger Adama Barrow achieved an upset victory over longtime incumbent Yahya Jammeh. It eventually concluded after a military intervention by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) led to Jammeh’s departure from the country.
The ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia or the ECOWAS Mission in The Gambia –initially code-named Operation Restore Democracy –is an ongoing military intervention in The Gambia by several member states of the Economic Community of West African States.
Teneng Mba Jaiteh is a Gambian politician who serves as Gambia's ambassador to the European Union as well as 7 of its member states.
Ousman Badjie was the Chief of the Defence Staff and of the Army of the Gambia,and Lieutenant-General in the Gambian Army,having succeeded Masaneh Kinteh to the position. He was removed from his position in March 2017.
Sheikh Omar Faye is the Gambian ambassador to Mauritania. Prior to this position,he was Gambian Minister of Defence,as well as a former diplomat who served as the Gambian Ambassador to the United States from 2015 to 2016,and an athlete who represented the Gambia in the 1984 Olympic games.
Fatou Mass Jobe-Njie is a Gambian politician who served as Minister of Tourism and Culture from 2010 to 2014 and ambassador to Malaysia from 2014 to 2015.
The following lists events in the year 2017 in the Gambia.
Following his victory in the presidential election on 1 December 2016,the newly elected President Adama Barrow appointed a new cabinet to succeed the cabinet of Yahya Jammeh,his predecessor. Barrow was formally inaugurated on 19 January 2017 at the embassy of the Gambia in Dakar,Senegal,and was able to return the Gambia on 26 January. He made the bulk of appointments in February 2017,and conducted a major reshuffle in June 2018.
The Chief of the Defence Staff in the Gambia is the head of the Gambia Armed Forces,and is appointed by the President.
Dawda Docka Fadera was a Gambian diplomat who served as ambassador to the United States from 2018 until his death. Prior to his appointment,he was Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service and Permanent Secretary at the Personnel Management Office (PMO).
Lieutenant General Yankuba Drammeh is a Gambian military officer who is the current Chief of the Defence Staff of the Gambia.
Yankuba Badjie was Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency under former President Yahya Jammeh from December 2013 to 2016.
Mamadou Tangara is a Gambian diplomat and politician who has served as Minister of Foreign Affairs since 2018,having previously served in 2012 and from 2010–2012. Tangara also served as Gambian Permanent Representative to the United Nations from 2017–2018 and from 2013–2016.
The Gambia 
Gambian National Army 
Lieutenant General 