List of heads of state of the Gambia
This is a list of the heads of state of The Gambia, from the independence of The Gambia in 1965 to the present day.
President of the Republic of The Gambia | |
---|---|
![]() Presidential Flag | |
Residence | State House, Banjul |
Term length | 5 years, renewable |
Inaugural holder | Dawda Jawara |
Formation | 24 April 1970 |
Deputy | Vice-President of The Gambia |
Salary | 65,000 USD annually[1] |
Website | http://statehouse.gov.gm/ |
From 1965 to 1970 the head of state under the Gambia Independence Act 1964 was the Queen of The Gambia, Elizabeth II, who was also the Monarch of the United Kingdom and the other Commonwealth realms. The Queen was represented in The Gambia by a Governor-General. The Gambia became a republic in 1970 and the Monarch and Governor-General were replaced by an executive President.
Monarch (1965–1970)
changeThe succession to the throne was the same as the succession to the British throne.
№ | Monarch
(Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Reign | Royal House | Prime Minister | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Reign start | Reign end | Time in Office | |||||
1 | Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–2022) |
18 February 1965 | 24 April 1970 | 5 years,
66 days |
Windsor | Jawara |
Governor-General
changeThe Governor-General was the representative of the Monarch in The Gambia and exercised most of the powers of the monarch. The Governor-General was appointed for an indefinite term, serving at the pleasure of the Monarch. The Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of the Cabinet of The Gambia without the involvement of the British government. In the event of a vacancy the Chief Justice served as Officer Administering the Government.
- Status
№ | Governor-General
(Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Monarch | Prime Minister | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in Office | |||||
1 | Sir John Paul(1916–2004) | 18 February 1965 | 9 February 1966 | 356 days | Elizabeth II | Jawara | |
2 | Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh(1912–1977) | 9 February 1966 | 24 April 1970 | 4 years
75 days |
Elizabeth II | Jawara |
First Republic (1970–1994)
changeUnder the 1970 Constitution, the first constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, the President replaced the Monarch as executive head of state. The President was elected by the National Assembly for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice-President served as Acting President.
- Status
№ | President
(Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation
(at time of appointment) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in Office | ||||||
1 | Sir Dawda Jawara
(1924–2019) |
24 April 1970 | 22 July 1994
(deposed.) |
32 years,
40 days |
1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 |
People's Progressive Party | ||
2 | Kukoi Sanyang (1952 – 2013) | 30 July 1981 | 5 August 1981 | chairman National Revolutionary Council, in rebellion | ||||
3 | Sir Dawda Jawara
(1924–2019) |
5 August 1981 | 22 July 1994 | 12 years, 351 days | 1982 |
People's Progressive Party |
Military rule (1994–1996)
changeColonel Yahya Jammeh led a coup d'état which overthrew President Jawara and his government, all political parties and Parliament were dissolved.
№ | Head of State
(Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Military | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in Office | |||||
4 | Colonel Yahya Jammeh(1965–) | 22 July 1994 | 18 October 1996 | 2 years,
86 days |
Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council |
Second Republic (1996–present)
changeUnder the current constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, the President is executive head of state. The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term. In the event of a vacancy, the Vice-President will serve as Acting President.
- Status
№ | President
(Birth–Death) |
Portrait | Tenure | Elected | Political affiliation
(at time of appointment) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Took office | Left office | Time in Office | ||||||
(5) | Yahya Jammeh(1965–) | 18 October 1996 | 19 January 2017 | 20 years, 76 days | 1996 2001 2006 2011 |
Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction | ||
6 | Adama Barrow(1965–) | 19 January 2017[2] | Incumbent | 7 years, 212 days | 2016 | United Democratic Party |
Standards
change-
Governor-General's Standard
-
Presidential Standard
Living former heads of state
changeThere are two living former Gambian Heads of State:
Image | Name | Term/Reign | Office | Date of birth |
---|---|---|---|---|
Yahya Jammeh | 1994–1996
1996–2017 |
Military ruler
President of The Gambia |
25 May 1965 |
Notes
change- ↑ "Top 15 Highest Paid African Presidents 2017". 15 December 2016. Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
- ↑ Presidency was in dispute from 19–21 January 2017.