Government type: Republic

Executive branch
The president is both the chief of state and head of government

Chief of state
President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh (since 18 October 1996) (from 1994 to 1996 he was chairman of the Junta)
 
Head of government
President Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh (since 18 October 1996)

Vice President
Isatou Njie-Saidy (since 20 March 1997)

Cabinet
Cabinet appointed by the president
elections

President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (no term limits)

Election last held 22 September 2006 (next to be held in 2011)

Election results:
Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh reelected president

Percent of vote
Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh 67.3%, Ousainou Darboe 26.6%, Halifa Sallah 6.0%

Legislative branch
Unicameral National Assembly (53 seats; 48 elected by popular vote, 5 appointed by the president; members serve five-year terms)
 
Elections
Last held 25 January 2007 (next to be held in 2012)

Election results
Seats by party: APRC 47, UDP 4, NADD 1, independent 1

Judicial branch
Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders
- Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction or APRC (the ruling party) (Yahya A. J. J. Jammeh)
- Gambia People's Democratic Party or GPDP (Henry Gomez)
- National Alliance for Democracy and Development or NADD (Halifa Sallah)
- National Convention Party or NCP (Sheriff Dibba)
- National Reconciliation Party or NRP (Hamat N. K. Bah)
- People's Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism or PDOIS [Sidia Jatta)
- United Democratic Party or UDP (Ousainou Darboe)