On 30 May 2025, the South African Revenue Service (SARS) informed of the retrospective inclusion, with effect from 14 March 2025, of The Gambia as part of the State Parties in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement.
The insertion is after the Note(s) after Schedule No.1 to the Customs and Excise Act, 1964.
As a point of interest, The Gambia gained independence from Britain on 18 February 1965. While the definite article ‘The’ was used in its name upon independence, the country became a republic on 24 April 1970. It officially became known as the ‘Republic of The Gambia’.
Another point of interest: As of 2025, 54 of the 55 African Union (AU) member states have signed the AfCFTA. Of these, 48 countries had ratified the Agreement.