Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has scrapped a decree which ordered all female government employees to cover their hair while at work.
The ban, imposed on January 4, was strongly objected by opposition groups.
A statement from the president’s office said that the ban was lifted because it made women “unhappy”, adding that they were his “best friends”.
Last month, Jammeh declared the Muslim-majority country an Islamic republic, saying the move was in line with the nation’s “religious identity and values”.
A memo was published in the pro-opposition Freedom and Jollof News newspapers, dated January 4, saying that an “executive directive has been issued that all female staff within the government ministries, departments and agencies are no longer allowed to expose their hair during official working hours”.
On Thursday, the president’s office said that the government’s initial ban had “nothing to do with religion” and that women should not be upset by it.
“Women are (Mr Jammeh’s) best friends, they are his sisters and he is here for their wellbeing and happiness at all times,” a statement said.
“That being the case, this decision that makes them unhappy has been lifted.”
