Gambia

Situated around the Gambia River in West Africa, the Republic of the Gambia gained its independence from the United Kingdom on February 18, 1965, as a constitutional monarchy within the British Commonwealth.

The current Constitution of the Republic of Gambia was adopted by national referendum on April 8, 1996, repealed the 1970 Constitution and entered into force on January 16, 1997. It was last amended in 2001.

The Constitution provides for a Presidential form of Government with a unicameral legislature (Chapters VI & VII) and an independent judiciary (Chapter VIII).

The Gambia's legal system is based on a tripartite system: English law, including the common law and principles of equity; customary law; and Shari’a law (Islamic law). The latter two systems apply only to indigenous Gambians and/or Muslims (Article 7).

The Constitution contains provisions relating to intellectual property rights: the preservation of tradition (Article 32), and cultural objectives including historic sites, cultural, natural and artistic heritage of the Gambia (Article 218). Furthermore, the right to private property, which can be extended to intellectual property rights is guaranteed by Article 22.