Arch 22

아치 22

A 35 m gateway over the main road into Banjul, built to commemorate the 22 July 1994 coup, with a viewing gallery and small museum at the top.

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At a glance

Country: Gambia
Location: Banjul, The Gambia
Built: 1996
Height: 35 m
Type: Monument

Quick answers

Where is Arch 22?

Arch 22 is in Banjul, The Gambia.

When was Arch 22 built?

Arch 22 was built in 1996.

How tall is Arch 22?

Arch 22 is about 35 m tall.

Arch 22 is a tall gateway over the road into Banjul, the capital of The Gambia in West Africa. It is 35 meters high and was finished in 1996. It was built to mark the military takeover of 22 July 1994, when Yahya Jammeh and his officers removed the elected government.

Today the arch is also a lookout. A gallery on the second floor gives views over the city, the port and the mangrove forests, and a small museum sits at the top. It stands on the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway, and with its 35 meters it is one of the tallest structures in The Gambia.

How it was built

The Senegalese architect Pierre Goudiaby designed Arch 22. He also designed Banjul's airport and the African Renaissance Monument in Dakar, Senegal.

The arch stands on eight columns and has three floors, reached by several lifts and spiral stairs. It is among the tallest structures in the country. It stands on the Banjul-Serrekunda Highway, near a traffic island where several roads meet.

What you see

A statue of an unknown soldier stands near the base. He carries a rifle on his back, holds a baby in one hand and makes a V-sign for victory with the other.

The view stretches to the sea port of Banjul and the mangroves of the Tanbi Wetland Complex. On the top floor there is a small textile museum. The arch is also pictured on the back of the 100-dalasi banknote.