The Gambia President Adama Barrow changed the name back to "Republic of The Gambia". Arab traders provided the first written accounts of the Gambia area in the ninth and tenth centuries. During the tenth century, Muslim merchants and scholars established communities in several West African commercial centres. Both groups established trans-Saharan trade routes, leading to a large export trade of local people as slaves, also gold and ivory, as well as imports of manufactured goods. By the 11th or 12th century, the rulers of kingdoms such as Takrur, a monarchy centred on the Senegal River just to the north, ancient Ghana and
LGBT rights in the Gambia country. GayGambia.com LGBT rights in the Gambia Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) persons in the Gambia face legal challenges not experienced by non-LGBT residents. Both male and female same-sex sexual activity is illegal in the Gambia. The Gambia Criminal Code, as amended by the Criminal Code (Amendment) Act, 2005, provides as follows: Section 144. Unnatural offenses. (1) Any person who –<br> (a) has carnal knowledge of any person against the order of nature; or<br> […]<br> (c) permits a male person to have carnal knowledge of him or her against the order of nature;<br> is guilty of a felony, and