Sir Dauda Kairaba Jawara , 1924-, president of Gambia (1970-94). A veterinarian, he became active in politics in 1960 and leader of the People's Progressive party. Entering government as minister of education (1960-61), he also served as first minister (1962-70). In 1970, Gambia became a republic with Jawara as president. During the early 1980s, Jawara survived, with Senegalese aid, armed rebellions and coups and was reelected in 1987. In 1989, he oversaw dissolution of the Senegambian confederation and gained renewed popularity, but he was overthrown in an army coup in 1994.

Jawara, Sir Alhaji Dauda Kairaba (b. 16 May 1924). Prime Minister of the Gambia 1962–70; President 1970–94 Born in Barajally, he qualified as a veterinary surgeon at Glasgow University. He returned to Gambia in 1954 and, as a member of Gambia's small educated elite, co-founded the People's Progressive Party in 1959. He won the 1962 elections and became Prime Minister. He led the country to independence in 1965, and established a Republic in 1970. He remained popular, though he failed to diversify the country's economy, which remained heavily reliant on its export of peanuts. Partly as protection against further military coups (those of 1980 and 1981 were quelled with the help of the Senegalese army), he advocated union with Senegal, which came about in 1982. However, the differences between the two countries proved too great, and the union was dissolved in 1989. He was deposed in a military coup in 1994, and went into exile in Senegal.

Gambia, The A country on the West African coast.

Physical

The Gambia runs west to east along the lower 320 km (nearly 200 miles) of the River Gambia, entirely surrounded inland by Senegal. Its territory on either bank is no more than about 24 km (15 miles) in width.

Economy

The Gambian economy is heavily dependent on groundnuts, with fish, the re-exporting of imports, mainly to Senegal, and tourism providing additional revenue. Gambia imports about a third of its food requirements.

History

The beginning of the colony was the building of a fort by the British at Banjul in 1816, as a base against the slave trade. Renamed Bathurst, the new town was placed under SIERRA LEONE in 1821. Gambia became a British colony in 1843. The Soninki-Marabout Wars in neighbouring Senegal caused serious disturbances and were ended by Anglo-French intervention in 1889. A British Protectorate over the interior was proclaimed in 1893. Gambia became an independent member of the Commonwealth in 1965, and a republic in 1970, with Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara as the country's first President. In 1982 The Gambia and Senegal formed a limited confederation, Senegambia, for defence, economic, and foreign policy purposes, but this had lapsed by 1989. In April 1992 Jawara was re-elected President, his fifth term of office. In 1994 Jawara was ousted in a military coup by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh, who was elected President in 1996.