North Bank Division was 33.2 per cent as of 2003. The Gambia is the smallest country in Africa, with the width of the country never exceeding . It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the west, while being surrounded by Senegal in all other directions. The Gambia River flows throughout the country and is the principal source of water and transport medium. The banks of the river have swampy beaches, while it has alluvial soil in all other parts, which is conducive for the growth of rice. Peanuts are the major cashcrop. The weather is usually warm and dry. The elevation of
The Gambia cut ties with the Gambia in 1995 - after the latter established diplomatic links with Taiwan - and re-established them in 2016. The Gambia plays an active role in international affairs, especially West African and Islamic affairs, although its representation abroad is limited. As a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the Gambia has played an active role in that organisation's efforts to resolve the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone and contributed troops to the community's ceasefire monitoring group (ECOMOG) in 1990 and (ECOMIL) in 2003. The Gambia has also sought to mediate disputes