20th century – 20th century
The Gambia
The Gambia’s path to independence was shaped by doubts about the viability of a small and poor state, negotiations over association with Britain or Senegal, and the rise of competing political parties. The United Party and the Protectorate People’s Progressive Party expanded electoral politics, while Dauda Jawara emerged as the dominant leader. Independence was negotiated in 1965 after constitutional reforms created increasingly representative institutions.
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The Story
Until around 1960, even Gambian nationalist politicians often sought a political future other than complete independence. The country was described as having a population of only 300,000 and as too small, poor, and vulnerable to stand alone. The Muslim Congress of Alhaji Ibrahima Garba-Jahumpa asked in 1957–58 for a permanent association with Britain, but Britain rejected the proposal after Treasury prompting.
By 1960, British officials hoped that Gambian leaders might arrange an accommodation within an independent Senegal. That possibility was rejected because of fears that the partnership would be unequal, that the two territories had different legal, administrative, and official-language systems, and that closer association might raise Gambian prices or damage smuggling networks. Chiefs also recognised that their Senegalese counterparts had comparatively little power, which made union unattractive.
The first political party, the Democratic Party, was not formed until 1951 and remained largely confined to the capital. In 1954 Pierre Sarr N’Jie, a Bathurst lawyer of Wolof descent, formed the United Party with a Wolof base. It gained control of the Legislative Council under a constitution providing for an elected majority and a form of ministerial government.
The decisive organisational change came in 1959, when the Protectorate People’s Society became the Protectorate Progressive Party, later the People’s Progressive Party, to contest the 1960 election. The party won a clear Protectorate majority but only a minority of all elected seats. Dauda Jawara then emerged as its leader, won the 1962 elections by a substantial margin, and became prime minister. After independence was negotiated in 1965, political attention shifted toward divisions within the ruling party.
20th century – 20th century
The Gambia
The Gambia’s path to independence was shaped by doubts about the viability of a small and poor state, negotiations over association with Britain or Senegal, and the rise of competing political parties. The United Party and the Protectorate People’s Progressive Party expanded electoral politics, while Dauda Jawara emerged as the dominant leader. Independence was negotiated in 1965 after constitutional reforms created increasingly representative institutions.
Continue exploring
The Story
Until around 1960, even Gambian nationalist politicians often sought a political future other than complete independence. The country was described as having a population of only 300,000 and as too small, poor, and vulnerable to stand alone. The Muslim Congress of Alhaji Ibrahima Garba-Jahumpa asked in 1957–58 for a permanent association with Britain, but Britain rejected the proposal after Treasury prompting.
By 1960, British officials hoped that Gambian leaders might arrange an accommodation within an independent Senegal. That possibility was rejected because of fears that the partnership would be unequal, that the two territories had different legal, administrative, and official-language systems, and that closer association might raise Gambian prices or damage smuggling networks. Chiefs also recognised that their Senegalese counterparts had comparatively little power, which made union unattractive.
The first political party, the Democratic Party, was not formed until 1951 and remained largely confined to the capital. In 1954 Pierre Sarr N’Jie, a Bathurst lawyer of Wolof descent, formed the United Party with a Wolof base. It gained control of the Legislative Council under a constitution providing for an elected majority and a form of ministerial government.
The decisive organisational change came in 1959, when the Protectorate People’s Society became the Protectorate Progressive Party, later the People’s Progressive Party, to contest the 1960 election. The party won a clear Protectorate majority but only a minority of all elected seats. Dauda Jawara then emerged as its leader, won the 1962 elections by a substantial margin, and became prime minister. After independence was negotiated in 1965, political attention shifted toward divisions within the ruling party.