On May 3, 2021, The Gambia deposited its instrument of Accession
to the ARIPO Banjul Protocol on Marks. It will become eligible for
designation under the Banjul Protocol for registration and
administration of trademarks through the ARIPO regional system on
August 3, 2021. With Gambia joining the Protocol, there are now 12
ARIPO Member States who may be designated for trademark protection
through ARIPO. They are: Botswana, Eswatini (formerly
Swaziland), The Gambia, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique,
Namibia, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
The Gambia, situated in West Africa, has been a Member State of
ARIPO for over three (3) decades. It deposited its Instrument of
Accession to the Harare Protocol on Patents and Industrial Designs
on 16 January 1986. The Harare Protocol is successfully operating
with 18 of the 20 Member States of ARIPO having acceded to the
Protocol. The 18 Member States are: Botswana, Eswatini
(formerly Swaziland), The
