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Politics and Society in The Gambia since Independence
Author(s) -
Perfect David
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
history compass
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.121
H-Index - 1
ISSN - 1478-0542
DOI - 10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00513.x
Subject(s) - politics , independence (probability theory) , colonial rule , democracy , political science , colonialism , human rights , military rule , political economy , development economics , law , sociology , economics , statistics , mathematics
This article examines politics in The Gambia since it achieved its independence from Britain in 1965. The Gambia was the longest continuously surviving multi‐party democracy in Africa until a successful military coup in 1994, with civilian rule being restored in 1996. The article explores political developments under its two post‐colonial leaders, Sir Dawda Jawara (1965–94) and Yahya Jammeh (1994–) in detail, discussing the major Gambian political parties and their performance in national elections; the military coups of 1981 and 1994; and other key events. The overall performance of both governments, in terms of economic and social developments and human rights, is also assessed.