I believe this is old news to most people, but  here is the full story:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/2798045.stm

Gambia imposes 'foreigner tax'

By Alpha Jallow
BBC, Banjul


The introduction of a new "foreigners tax" in The Gambia has led to many
foreigners fleeing the country.
Every foreigner resident in The Gambia now has to pay 1,000 dalasi ($40)
every year for an "Alien Certificate".


Up to half the population are foreigners
Sources close to the government say the new tax is necessary because out of
1.5 million people living in The Gambia, about 700,000 are foreign nationals
and their numbers are increasing.

They also say the new tax will help the authorities improve social services
for the entire population.

One senior government official who backed the new tax said it is unfair to
tax Gambians alone, while many expatriate workers are accumulating large
sums of money at the expense of Gambian tax payers.

The issue is so controversial that the cabinet is reportedly split over the
tax.

Education hit

Since the introduction of this new alien tax many foreigners mostly from
Guinea, Senegal and Sierra Leone have left the country.

Pape Jobe, a Senegalese who has lived most of his life in The Gambia, told
me he cannot afford the money to pay for himself and his four relatives.

He added that the new tax law has only favoured those foreigners who are
well established in the country.

The new tax has also caused a stir among parents of children going to
school.

Some say that if the large number of foreign teachers leave the country, the
education of their children will be greatly affected.

But while some foreigners disagree with the new tax, others welcome it as a
move in the right direction.

One high profile Nigerian businessman in Banjul, who wished to remain
anonymous, said it would curb the number of illegal immigrants who parade
the streets of Banjul and Serekunda.






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