Gambia president declares the country an Islamic republic .

Yesterday, President Yahya Jammeh declared the formerly secular country an Islamic republic, saying it is in line with the country’s majority religion and is an effort to break from a colonial past. Other Islamic republics include Iran, Pakistan, Mauritania and Afghanistan. He said the decision was in line with the country’s religious identity and values. Some 90% of Gambians are Muslim.

He assured that the rights of the Christian community would be protected, adding that Gambia could not afford to continue a colonial legacy. Jammeh seized power in 1994. An opposition leader has said this kind of decision needs to go through a referendum. Jammeh withdrew Gambia from the Commonwealth in 2013, describing the organisation as neo-colonial.