List of heads of state of the Gambia

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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.

Queen
(Born–Died)		 Reign Royal House Prime Minister
# Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Start End Duration
1 Elizabeth II
(1926–)		 18 February 1965 24 April 1970 5 years, 65 days Windsor Jawara

Governors-General

Standard of the Governor-General of the Gambia

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
(Born–Died)		 Term of Office Monarch Prime Minister
# Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took Office Left Office Duration
1 Sir John Warburton 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, 74 days 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 National Assembly for a -year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President
(Born–Died)		 Term of Office Political Party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took Office Left Office Duration
1 Dawda Jawara
(1924–)		 24 April 1970 22 July 1994
(Deposed)		 24 years, 89 days People's Progressive Party

Military rule (1994–1996)

Colonel Yahya Jammeh led a coup d'état which overthrown the President Jawara and his government, all political parties and Parliament was also dissolved.

Head of State
(Born–Died)		 Term of Office Military
# Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took Office Left Office Duration
2 Colonel Yahya Jammeh
(1965–)		 22 July 1994 18 September 1996 2 years, 58 days 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 was elected by National Assembly for a 5-year term. In the event of a vacancy the Vice President served as Acting President.

Status
  Denotes Vice President acting as President
President
(Born–Died)		 Term of Office Political Party
(at time of election)
# Portrait Name
(Born–Died)		 Took Office Left Office Duration
(2) Yahya Jammeh
(1965–)		 18 October 1996 Incumbent 19 years, 202 days
(as of 7 May 2016)		 Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction

Living former heads of state

Name Term/Reign Office Date of birth
Elizabeth II 1965–1970 Queen of the Gambia April 21, 1926
Sir Dawda Jawara 1970–1994 President of the Gambia May 16, 1924

External links

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