Less than a month,precisely On December 11 2015,after Jammeh declared Gambia an Islamic republic due to its majority Muslim population and a desire to break from its colonial past, its government has issued a decree ordering female civil servants to cover their hair while at work.
No reasons were given for the introduction of the new rule, which was announced in a memo that was leaked to local opposition newspapers.
The memo, published by Freedom,stated 'all female staff' within government departments were no longer allowed to expose their hair during working hours, effective from December 31 2015.
It went on to urge female staff 'to use a head tie and neatly wrap their hair'.
Although it doesn't appear that his announcement changes Gambia's laws or its constitutional status as a secular state, it could yet form the justification for rules such as that now affecting its female employees.
Gambia cannot afford to continue the colonial legacy,' Jammeh said of his country, which gained independence from Britain in 1965.
Jammeh said the rights of Gambia's Christian community will be respected and there would be no mandates on dress.
'We will be an Islamic state that would respect the rights of all citizens and non-citizens.'
Hamat Bah of the opposition National Reconciliation Party criticized the decision.
'There is a constitutional clause that says that Gambia is a secular state. You cannot make such a declaration without going through a referendum.'
Jammeh has ruled Gambia since seizing power in 1994.
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