The Gambian legal system uses the 1997 Constitution, Acts of the National Assembly and other written rules. Civil matters may also draw on English common law and equity, while customary law and Sharia apply in relevant matters. The Gambia therefore does not use one single civil code for every private dispute. Labour law covers employment contracts, wages, working time, leave, workplace safety, representation, disputes and termination under the Labour Act 2023. Immigration law covers entry, visas, residence, employment permission, refugee protection, citizenship and deportation. The Gambia Immigration Department handles the main procedures, but an Immigration Officer decides whether a traveler may enter; a visa does not itself guarantee admission. Criminal law concerns conduct treated as an offence. The Gambia Police Force investigates, prosecutors bring charges and courts decide cases. Accused persons have rights including information about the allegation, silence, legal assistance, humane treatment and a fair hearing. Consumer protection applies when private consumers obtain goods, services, contracts or digital offers from commercial or professional suppliers. The Consumer Protection Act 2014 supports clear information, fair treatment, suitable and safe products, remedies and access to complaints bodies. Sector regulators handle areas such as utilities, telecommunications, food, medicines, aviation and financial services. Civil law covers contracts, property, family matters, inheritance and compensation for harm. Courts, tribunals, mediation services and traditional institutions may provide different ways to resolve a civil dispute. The first useful classification is the legal relationship and event involved, because that determines the applicable rules, available forum and documents needed.
Law in Gambia
Law in The Gambia governs relationships between individuals, organisations, employers, public authorities and commercial suppliers. Its main areas include labour, immigration, criminal, consumer-protection and civil law. The applicable rules and responsible institution depend on the subject, such as employment, entry into the country, an alleged offence, a purchase or a private dispute.
Tip
Treat a legal problem in The Gambia as a routing decision: identify what happened, who is involved and what result you need before choosing an authority or procedure. Keep clear written evidence, because the facts determine whether labour, immigration, criminal, consumer-protection or civil rules apply. Do not assume that a visa guarantees entry, that every dispute must go directly to court or that a sector complaint has no regulator.