7 March 2012 Last updated at 11:01 ET

The Gambia profile

• Overview
• Facts
• Leaders
• Media
• Timeline

Press freedom is stifled by an "intolerant and unpredictable" government, says Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

The law provides for jail terms for journalists found guilty of libel or sedition.

Prominent journalist Deyda Hydara, a critic of the 2004 press law and editor of The Point newspaper, was shot dead days after the legislation was passed.

Since then, "almost all those who were a thorn in the president's side have fallen into step or have left the country," says RSF.

State-run Radio Gambia broadcasts tightly-controlled news, which is relayed by private radio stations. Radio France Internationale is available on FM.

The government operates the only national TV station.

There were 159,000 internet users by December 2011 (Internetworldstats.com).

Press

• Daily Observer - private
• The Daily News - private
• Foroyaa - private, bi-weekly
• The Point - private, daily

Television

• Gambia Television (GRTS TV) - state-run, single-channel national service

Radio

• Radio Gambia - state broadcaster, programmes in English and vernacular languages
• Radio 1 FM - private, music-based
• West Coast Radio - private
• City Limits Radio - private