HISTORY OF GAMBIA

The Gambia was a part of the British West Africa from 1821 to 1843. It was formerly referred to as the British Gambia and was divided into colonies for administrative purposes. The history of this West African country is closely tied to that of its neighboring country, Senegal. Till the late 19^th century when a distinction was made between the two regions, they were called Senegambia.

The first Europeans in the region were the Portuguese who established trading stations around the country in the late 1400s, but later abandoned these stations after a century. The trade possibilities drew in other Europeans countries.

Throughout the 18^th century, trade was minimal and no chartered company made profit in Senegambia. This was soon changed when Captain Alexander Grant was sent to reestablish a British base for control of slave trade. He went on to purchase the Banjul Island, from the then king of Kombo and set up control there. This brought in several traders and workers to the region.

The Gambia was a separate colony with its own governor until 1866 when control was returned to the governor-general at Freetown, Sierra Leone till 1889. By 1900, the British enacted an indirect rule on the protectorate, dividing it into 35 chiefdoms, with its chiefs. Although the British governor maintained power.

The Gambia became a republic On April 24, 1970. The first president was Sir Dawda Jawara, under the People’s Progressive Party (PPP). The country experienced several coups, some with the aid of the Senegalese troops. Attempts to overthrow the ruling government were made in 1981 and 1994 respectively, with only the 1994 coup being successful. This led to military rule for two years and political activities were banned until August 1996.

Presidential elections were conducted late 1996, with elections for the National Assembly following in early 1997. Jammeh was elected the president under the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC).

The return to civil rule improved the Gambia’s international reputation and organizations that left due to the coup began to assist again.

SOURCE: BRITANNICA