The tiny, tiny nation of The Gambia - a tiny slither of a country in West Africa, three times smaller than Belgium, about 24 times smaller than the UK and with a population of just 1.7 million - has withdrawn from the Commonwealth.
The nation branded the 54-member grouping (now a 53-member grouping), which includes the UK and most of its former colonies, a "neo-colonial institution".
The withdrawal was announced on state TV, but no other reasons were given.
There has been tension in recent years between the UK and The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh.
Two years ago President Yahya Jammeh accused the UK of backing his political opposition ahead of elections.
The UK, however, is concerned at Jammeh's dire human rights record.
Bakary Dabo, former vice president of The Gambia and chairman of the country's campaign for democratic change, said people there are generally "very happy" to be part of the Commonwealth.
He said the government had recently begun "picking up war against poorly specified enemies called 'western powers'".
The Gambia gained independence from the UK in 1965. Its borders are said to have been set in the 19th Century by the distance a naval cannon could fire from a British gunboat on the river.
UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth
BBC News
3 October 2013
Tyrant: President Jammeh's action is a "disaster", says Gambian journalist Ebrima Sankareh
The Gambia's decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth 48 years after joining is something to "very much regret", the UK Foreign Office has said.
The west African nation branded the 54-member grouping, which includes the UK and most of its former colonies, a "neo-colonial institution".
The Gambia's borders are said to have been set in the 19th Century by the distance a naval cannon could fire from a British gunboat on the river.
The capital Banjul
The withdrawal was announced on state TV, but no other reasons were given.
Two years ago President Yahya Jammeh accused the UK of backing his political opposition ahead of elections.
There is a history of tension between President Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, and the UK.
Earlier this year, a Foreign Office report singled out The Gambia for its human rights record, citing cases of unlawful detentions, illegal closures of newspapers and discrimination against minority groups.
On Thursday a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government. We would very much regret Gambia, or any other country, deciding to leave the Commonwealth."
In August last year The Gambia was criticised by Amnesty International and others for executing nine prisoners by firing squad.
'Colonialism extension'
The capital Banjul. The Gambia gained its independence from Britain in 1965
The Commonwealth was founded in 1931 but acquired its modern shape after 1949 as former British colonies and protectorates, including The Gambia, started to achieve self-government and varying degrees of independence.
According to the Commonwealth's charter, member states should communicate and co-operate "in the common interests of our peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace".
In its statement, The Gambian government said it had "withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth".
It said it had "decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".
But Bakary Dabo, former vice president of The Gambia and chairman of the country's campaign for democratic change, said people there are generally "very happy" to be part of the Commonwealth.
He said the government had recently begun "picking up war against poorly specified enemies called 'western powers'".
Aids claim
Also at the UN, President Jammeh said homosexuality was one of the three "biggest threats to human existence".
He has also drawn international criticism for claiming he can cure Aids with a herbal body rub and bananas.
BBC Africa analyst Farouk Chothia said despite its image as an idyllic holiday destination, The Gambia, and its population of less than two million, were kept under tight control by its eccentric leader.
The latest decision was bound to come from him, our analyst added.
The Royal Commonwealth Society, an education charity which works in Commonwealth countries, said The Gambia's announcement was unexpected and appeared to be undemocratic.
Guide to The Gambia
BBC News - UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth
The nation branded the 54-member grouping (now a 53-member grouping), which includes the UK and most of its former colonies, a "neo-colonial institution".
The withdrawal was announced on state TV, but no other reasons were given.
There has been tension in recent years between the UK and The Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh.
Two years ago President Yahya Jammeh accused the UK of backing his political opposition ahead of elections.
The UK, however, is concerned at Jammeh's dire human rights record.
Bakary Dabo, former vice president of The Gambia and chairman of the country's campaign for democratic change, said people there are generally "very happy" to be part of the Commonwealth.
He said the government had recently begun "picking up war against poorly specified enemies called 'western powers'".
The Gambia gained independence from the UK in 1965. Its borders are said to have been set in the 19th Century by the distance a naval cannon could fire from a British gunboat on the river.
UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth
BBC News
3 October 2013
Tyrant: President Jammeh's action is a "disaster", says Gambian journalist Ebrima Sankareh
The Gambia's decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth 48 years after joining is something to "very much regret", the UK Foreign Office has said.
The west African nation branded the 54-member grouping, which includes the UK and most of its former colonies, a "neo-colonial institution".
The Gambia's borders are said to have been set in the 19th Century by the distance a naval cannon could fire from a British gunboat on the river.
The capital Banjul
The withdrawal was announced on state TV, but no other reasons were given.
Two years ago President Yahya Jammeh accused the UK of backing his political opposition ahead of elections.
There is a history of tension between President Jammeh, who came to power in a 1994 coup, and the UK.
Earlier this year, a Foreign Office report singled out The Gambia for its human rights record, citing cases of unlawful detentions, illegal closures of newspapers and discrimination against minority groups.
On Thursday a Foreign Office spokesman said: "Decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government. We would very much regret Gambia, or any other country, deciding to leave the Commonwealth."
In August last year The Gambia was criticised by Amnesty International and others for executing nine prisoners by firing squad.
'Colonialism extension'
The capital Banjul. The Gambia gained its independence from Britain in 1965
The Commonwealth was founded in 1931 but acquired its modern shape after 1949 as former British colonies and protectorates, including The Gambia, started to achieve self-government and varying degrees of independence.
According to the Commonwealth's charter, member states should communicate and co-operate "in the common interests of our peoples and in the promotion of international understanding and world peace".
In its statement, The Gambian government said it had "withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth".
It said it had "decided that The Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism".
But Bakary Dabo, former vice president of The Gambia and chairman of the country's campaign for democratic change, said people there are generally "very happy" to be part of the Commonwealth.
He said the government had recently begun "picking up war against poorly specified enemies called 'western powers'".
Aids claim
Also at the UN, President Jammeh said homosexuality was one of the three "biggest threats to human existence".
He has also drawn international criticism for claiming he can cure Aids with a herbal body rub and bananas.
BBC Africa analyst Farouk Chothia said despite its image as an idyllic holiday destination, The Gambia, and its population of less than two million, were kept under tight control by its eccentric leader.
The latest decision was bound to come from him, our analyst added.
The Royal Commonwealth Society, an education charity which works in Commonwealth countries, said The Gambia's announcement was unexpected and appeared to be undemocratic.
Guide to The Gambia
- Official name is The Gambia to distinguish it from the River Gambia
- One of Africa's smallest countries, it is surrounded on three sides by Senegal
- Its borders are said to have been set in the 19th Century by the distance a naval cannon could fire from a British gunboat on the river
- Tourism, fishing and peanuts are major industries
- Governed since 1994 by President Yahya Jammeh, who seized power aged 29
- Last year he vowed to stay in power for "a billion years", if God willed it
- Claims he can cure Aids and infertility with herbal concoctions
- Warned in 2008 that gay people would be beheaded
BBC News - UK regrets The Gambia's withdrawal from Commonwealth
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