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The Gambia - Head of Government

HE Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh, President

HE Alhaji Dr Yahya Jammeh is serving his third term in office as President of the Republic of The Gambia following his victory at the September 2006 presidential election. Dr Jammeh took office as President in October 1996 and won a second term in the October 2001 presidential election.

Dr Jammeh served as Chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State and Government of the West African Monetary Zone in 2005. He was appointed1st Vice-Chairperson of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference at its 9th Meeting of Heads of State and Government in Doha, Qatar, in November 2001.He also served as Chairperson of the Inter-States Committee for the Control of Drought in the Sahel from September 1997 to November 2000.

Dr Jammeh was educated in The Gambia and served in The Gambia National Gendarmerie from 1984 to 1991, and The Gambia National Army’s Military Police from 1991 to 1994. He is a graduate of the US Military Police Training Centre in Port McClellan, Alabama, USA, and attained the rank of Colonel in 1996 before retiring from the army.

Dr Jammeh was born on 25 May 1965 in Kanilai Village in the Foni Kansala District of The Gambia.