Dawda Jawara

Dawda Jawara
Fernando Pereira / Anefo · CC BY-SA 3.0 nl · source
Name	Dawda Jawara
Caption	Jawara in 1980
Office	1st President of the Gambia
Term start	24 April 1970
Term end	22 July 1994
Predecessor	Monarchy abolished, (Elizabeth II as Queen of the Gambia)
Successor	Yahya Jammeh, (Chairman of the AFPRC)
Office1	Prime Minister of the Gambia
Term start1	12 June 1962
Term end1	24 April 1970
Monarch1	Elizabeth II
Governor1	John Warburton Paul
Predecessor1	Pierre Sarr N'Jie
Successor1	Office abolished
Birth name	David Kairaba Jawara
Birth date	16 May 1924
Birth place	Barajally, British Gambia
Death date	27 August 2019 (aged 95)
Death place	Fajara, The Gambia
Party	People's Progressive Party
Spouse	Augusta Mahoney (m. 1955; div. 1967), Chilel N'Jie (m. 1968)
Alma mater	University of Glasgow, University of Edinburgh
Profession	Veterinarian

Dawda Jawara. Dawda Kairaba Jawara was the first head of state of an independent The Gambia, serving as its prime minister and later as its first president for nearly three decades. A trained veterinarian, he led the nation to independence from British colonial rule and oversaw its development as a rare multi-party democracy in post-colonial Africa. His tenure ended with his overthrow in a bloodless military coup led by Yahya Jammeh.

Early life and education

Born David Kairaba Jawara in the village of Barajally, he was the son of Mamma and Alhaji Ibrahima Jawara, a prominent Mandinka trader. He received his early education at the Methodist Boys' High School in Banjul before traveling to Scotland for higher studies. Jawara attended the University of Glasgow, earning a degree in veterinary medicine, and later qualified as a surgeon at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies of the University of Edinburgh. His time in Britain exposed him to Fabian socialist ideas and the workings of parliamentary democracy, which deeply influenced his future political philosophy.

Political career

Returning to British Gambia, Jawara worked as a government veterinary officer but grew increasingly involved in politics. In 1959, he helped transform the Democratic Party into the People's Progressive Party (PPP), which became the dominant political force. He was elected to the House of Representatives in 1960 and became the first prime minister of self-governing Gambia in 1962, succeeding Pierre Sarr N'Jie. Jawara skillfully navigated the final stages of decolonization, negotiating the terms of full independence, which was achieved on 18 February 1965 under his leadership as prime minister, with Elizabeth II remaining as head of state.

Presidency (1970–1994)

In 1970, following a successful referendum, The Gambia became a republic, and Jawara assumed the office of president. His presidency was marked by a commitment to civil liberties, a free press, and regular multi-party elections, making The Gambia an exceptional democratic state in a region prone to military rule. He maintained close ties with the United Kingdom, Senegal, and the United States, and played an active role in the Organisation of African Unity and the Economic Community of West African States. A significant event was the failed 1981 coup, which was suppressed with military assistance from Senegal and led to the short-lived Senegambia Confederation. Despite challenges like economic dependency on groundnut exports, his government invested in education and healthcare. His rule ended abruptly on 22 July 1994 when he was deposed by a coup led by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh.

Post-presidency and legacy

After the coup, Jawara initially went into exile in Senegal and later in London. Following the return of civilian rule, he was invited back to The Gambia in 2002 by President Yahya Jammeh and was formally accorded the title of Father of the Nation. Jawara is widely remembered as the architect of Gambian independence and for presiding over a prolonged period of political stability and democratic governance. His legacy is often contrasted with the subsequent authoritarian rule under the APRC regime. Institutions like the University of the Gambia and the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara International Conference Centre are named in his honor.

Personal life and death

Jawara was married twice, first to Augusta Mahoney, with whom he had children, and after their divorce, to Chilel N'Jie. A devout Muslim, he changed his first name from David to Dawda. In his later years, he lived quietly in Fajara. Dawda Jawara died on 27 August 2019 at his home, at the age of 95. His state funeral was attended by regional leaders including presidents Adama Barrow of The Gambia and Macky Sall of Senegal, and he was buried at Jeshwang Cemetery near Banjul.

Category:Presidents of the Gambia Category:1924 births Category:2019 deaths