Gambia

The smallest country on the African continent, Gambia extends to only 4,000 square miles. It’s completely surrounded by Senegal, apart from a 50-mile coastline to the west and the border with its all-embracing neighbour follows the meandering Gambia River inland from the Atlantic Ocean. From the 16th century onwards, Gambia was ruled by the colonial powers of Portugal, France and Britain at various times until it finally gained independence in 1965, becoming a republic five years later.