The provided text highlights the historical journey of The Gambia toward its sovereignty, focusing specifically on its Independence Day celebrated on February 18th. It explains how the nation transitioned from a British protectorate to an independent constitutional monarchy in 1965 under the leadership of David Jawara. The source also notes the country's unique geographical status as the smallest mainland African nation and clarifies the specific linguistic reasoning behind the inclusion of "The" in its official name. In addition to these historical facts, the document includes snippets of global news from early 2026, ranging from military technology developments to international political announcements