Gambia Quits the Commonwealth

 

The government of Gambia has decided to severe ties with the Commonwealth, an organization of 54 countries that were formerly colonized by Great Britain. The Commonwealth is headed by the British sovereign. Gambia has been a Commonwealth member since its independence had been declared in 1965.

"The government has withdrawn its membership of the British Commonwealth and decided that the Gambia will never be a member of any neo-colonial institution and will never be a party to any institution that represents an extension of colonialism,"announced the West African nation announcement broadcast by the west African nation on state television on Wednesday, reports the Guardian.

Meanwhile, a spokesman from the British Foreign Office said that Commonwealth regrets Gambia's decision to quit, however, "decisions on Commonwealth membership are a matter for each member government."

Gambia's president Yanya Jammeh--who seized power aafter 1994 coup--has been criticized for his brutal rule, to execute nine death row prisoners, including one woman, without warning.