List of heads of state of the Gambia

The Gambia
This article is part of a series on the
politics and government of
the Gambia
Constitution

This is a list of the heads of state of the Gambia, from the independence of the Gambia in 1965 to the present day.

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)

The 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
1 Queen Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 18 February 1965 24 April 1970 Windsor Jawara

Governor-General

The 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. After the passage of the Statute of Westminster 1931, 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
  Denotes Chief Justice acting as Officer Administering the Government
№ Governor-General
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Tenure Monarch Prime Minister
Took office Left office
1 Sir John Paul
(1916–2004)		 18 February 1965 9 February 1966 Elizabeth II Jawara
2 Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh
(1912–1977)		 9 February 1966 24 April 1970 Elizabeth II Jawara

First Republic (1970–1994)

Under 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
  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
№ President
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Tenure Elected Political affiliation
(at time of appointment)
Took office Left office
1 Sir Dawda Jawara
(1924–)		 24 April 1970 22 July 1994
(deposed.)		 1972
1977
1982
1987
1992		 People's Progressive Party

Military rule (1994–1996)

Colonel 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
2 Colonel Yahya Jammeh
(1965–)		 22 July 1994 18 October 1996 Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council

Second Republic (1996–present)

Under 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
  Denotes Vice-President acting as President
№ President
(Birth–Death)		 Portrait Tenure Elected Political affiliation
(at time of appointment)
Took office Left office
(2) Yahya Jammeh
(1965–)		 18 October 1996 21 January 2017 1996
2001
2006
2011		 Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction
3 Adama Barrow
(1965–)		 19 January 2017[1] Incumbent 2016 United Democratic Party

Standards

Living former heads of state

There are three living former Gambian Heads of State:

Image Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1965–1970 Queen of the Gambia 21 April 1926
Sir Dawda Jawara 1970–1994 President of the Gambia 16 May 1924
Yahya Jammeh 1994–1996
1996–2017		 Military ruler
President of the Gambia		 25 May 1965

Notes

  1. ↑ Presidency was in dispute from 19 January 2017 to 21 January 2017.
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