History of The Gambia

Kaabu, 1537–1867 Draft, not yet reviewed

Kaabu was a federation of Mandinka kingdoms in the Senegambia region centered within modern northeastern Guinea-Bissau, large parts of today's Gambia, and extending into Koussanar, Koumpentoum, and the Casamance in Senegal. It rose to prominence as an imperial military province of the Mali Empire. After the decline of the Mali Empire, Kaabu became independent. In 1867, however, the Kaabu capital at Kansala came under siege from an army led by Alfa Omar of Labé and Alfa Molo Balde.

Seat of power: Foni Kansala

Gambia Colony and Protectorate, 1821–1965 Draft, not yet reviewed

The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of The Gambia from 1821 to 1965. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the protectorate was the inland territory situated around the Gambia River, which was declared in 1894. The foundation of the colony was Fort James and Bathurst, where British presence was established in 1815 and 1816, respectively. Following agreements between the British and Gambian governments in July 1964, The Gambia became independent on 18 February 1965.

Seat of power: Banjul

Rulers

• Charles Fitzgerald, Governor of the Gambia, 1844–1847
• Richard MacDonnell, Governor of the Gambia, 1847–1851
• Luke O'Connor, Governor of the Gambia, 1852–1859
• George Abbas Kooli D'Arcy, Governor of the Gambia, 1859–1866
• George Chardin Denton, Governor of the Gambia, 1901–1911
• Henry Galway, Governor of the Gambia, 1911–1914
• Edward John Cameron, Governor of the Gambia, 1914–1920
• Cecil Hamilton Armitage, Governor of the Gambia, 1921–1927
• Edward Brandis Denham, Governor of the Gambia, 1928–1930
• Herbert Richmond Palmer, Governor of the Gambia, 1930–1934
• Thomas Southorn, Governor of the Gambia, 1936–1942
• Hilary Rudolph Robert Blood, Governor of the Gambia, 1942–1947
• Percy Wyn-Harris, Governor of the Gambia, 1949–1958
• Edward Windley, Governor of the Gambia, 1958–1962
• John Warburton Paul, Governor of the Gambia, 1962–1965

Republic of The Gambia, 1965 to today Draft, not yet reviewed

The Gambia, officially the Republic of The Gambia, is a country in West Africa. Geographically, the Gambia is the smallest country in continental Africa; it is bounded by Senegal on all sides except for the western part, which is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. In 1965, 200 years later, the Gambia gained independence under the leadership of Dawda Jawara. Jawara remained the president, winning several elections, until he was overthrown by Yahya Jammeh in a bloodless coup on 22 July 1994.

Seat of power: Banjul

Rulers

• Dawda Kairaba Jawara, President of the Gambia, 1970–1994
• Yahya Jammeh, President of the Gambia, 1994–2017
• Adama Barrow, President of the Gambia, 2017 to today