Gambia gains independence

On this day in history Gambia became the 36th African nation to gain independence. The Gambia (officially the Republic of The Gambia) commonly known as Gambia, is a country in Western Africa. It is a former British Colony, which is sandwiched between the Republic of Senegal and the North Atlantic Ocean. It is the smallest nation on the African continent, and one of the few countries in West Africa that has enjoyed extended periods of political stability since its independence. Gambia officially became a republic on 24 April 1970. The name Gambia comes from the River Gambia that divides the country into two almost equal halves.