Gambia's President Yahya Jammeh declared on Saturday his formerly secular country an Islamic republic.


MOSCOW (Sputnik)�� Gambia's population of�1.8 million people is 95 percent Muslim, but�no state religion was previously announced.

"Gambia's destiny is in�the hands of�the Almighty Allah. As from�today, Gambia is an Islamic state. We will be an Islamic state that will respect the rights of�the citizens," the President was quoted on�his office's website as�saying.

In 1965, Gambia, the smallest country in�continental Africa, gained independence from�the United Kingdom. In October 2013, Gambia left the block of�former 54 British colonies.

Islamic republic is the name given to�several states in�countries ruled by�Islamic laws, including the Islamic Republics of�Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan, and Mauritania.

By Sputnik