History

The Carthaginians in the fifth century BC were well aquainted with the river Gambia and the area became a part of many African Empires such as Ghana (centred in modern-day Mauritania) and then the Songhais , bringers Islam to the region. In the 13th century, the river basin came under the control of Mandingo and Susu people based in the area presently called Mali. At the end of the 16 th century, the downfall of the Mali Empire started with first contacts with the British taking place at the mouth of the River Gambia. It was a coveted area and the competitors included, many African powers, including the Fula from northern Nigeria, followed by the Marabouts and the Soninkas trying to gain control for over 200 years.

The river had great potential for trade and several European powers contested for ownership of the river during the colonial period. it fell into British hands, the mouth and the lower reaches and an enclave was established in the territories of Senegal (that belonged to France) from where attacks were planned against the French trading settlements. The Gambia was Britain's first and last colony, being officially colonised in 1765 (although until 1843 it was united with Sierra Leone) and gaining independence 200 years later in February 1965.

In April 1970 the country became a republic as a member of the Commonwealth. Sir Dawda Jawara became the country's president, and was re-elected to the post in 1972 and 1977. Although the waters seemed to be calm, by 1980, trouble was brewing in the form of disaffection with the military. Jawara sought the help of his larger neighbour. No solution could be reached by the time of the attempted coup in July 1981. Despite the failure, it had a great effect on Gambian politics at the time. Soon after the restoration of the legitimate government, with the help of Senegalese (and a small number of British) troops, a confederation of Senegal and The Gambia, was announced under the leadership of President Diouf of Senegal, with President Jawara as his deputy. The aim was full unification and as the beginning, the two countries' political, economic and defence policies were to be blended. In 1989, the project was nipped in the bud, however, both the countries continue to maintain close links.

T he elections held in April 1992 confirmed a further term for President Jawara. But, none of the issues like poor conditions for the military, and the unequal distribution of the benefits of the country's growing tourist economy, that gave rise to the 1981 coup attempt had been addressed. In July 1994, while Jawara was away on a visit to the UK, a movement of young army officers along the lines of those who had taken over in Sierra Leone took power in a bloodless military coup under Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh.

Jawara returned to the country only in June 2002, until which he remained in exile. This took the Western governments, like most Gambians, by surprise. The EU, Commonwealth and individual governments blocked short-term aid and financial support immediately and pressurized the new regime to expedite the return to civilian democratic government. However the next two years saw Jammeh working towards establishing the new regime's legitimacy, holding a referendum for a new draft constitution (which was accepted) and easing restrictions on party political activity. He officially resigned from the army, in September 1996, to contest the upcoming presidential election under the newly founded Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) as his political identity. Jammeh emerged victorious in the election at the end of September and in January 1997, the APRC swept majority of the seats in the poll for a new National Assembly.

The international economic and political links damaged by the coup have slowly been repaired. Jammeh has shed Jawara's strict pro-Western stance and has searched for greener pastures of new donors and trading partners, which include Libya and Taiwan, Cuba, Iran and Nigeria. New agreements were also signed with neighbouring Senegal. Jammeh and the APRC continue to have the power, which has been consolidated after their victory at the recent presidential and legislative polls, history once again repeating itself after five years.