Gambia
18 February 1965
- Sovereignty from
- the United Kingdom
- Marked as
- Independence Day
- Years sovereign
- 61
The struggle
The Gambia is a river and its banks, a colony Britain kept largely for its trading station at Bathurst. Its small size made London doubt it could stand alone, and union with Senegal was repeatedly proposed. Dawda Jawara's PPP won rural support and the country became independent on 18 February 1965, a republic in 1970.
Key people
Dawda Jawara
1924–2019
Led the PPP; first prime minister and president
Edward Francis Small
1891–1958
Founded the first trade union and nationalist press
Pierre Sarr N'Jie
1909–1993
Leading rival nationalist and premier before independence
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