51 Years of Nationhood: Looking at the Pertinent Issues in Post-Independence Gambia

Incumbent President, Yahya A.J.J Jammeh (L) with former President Dawada Kairaba Jawara (R). Photo source: africatime

In the aftermath of the second World War, most African countries wanted to break away from colonial rule and become self-governed. Following India's attainment of Independence in 1947 coupled with the fact that only three countries in the continent (Egypt, Ethiopia and Liberia) were independent at the time, the aspiration for self-rule among Africans become ever so strong. Consequently the struggle for Independence began in earnest across the continent and by the 1960s, most African states had attained independence.

First conquered by the Portuguese and later ruled by the British for hundreds of years, it was about time for The Gambia to follow suit and also seek its independence. However the British rulers thought that The Gambia with a population of just about 315,000 at the time would not be able to stand on it’s own if it were to gain independence. They were of the view that an independent Gambia will eventually matched up with the Republic of Senegal - a country that almost entirely encircled it.

Notwithstanding, Independence was achieved in 1965 making the country the 37th sovereign state in Africa, the 21st member of the Commonwealth and the 116th member of the United Nations. The Gambia officially become a Republic in 1970 through a referendum effectively ending over 300 years of British rule. Since then the Republic of The Gambia has come a long way recently celebrating 51 years of nationhood on 18th February 2016.

A lot has happened in the country during half a century of self-governance. We have achieved relative infrastructural development and economic prosperity in some areas, but also so many setbacks in other areas. Most importantly though, we have witnessed enviable peace and stability over the years. Although some might argue that we could/should have done a lot better economically, I am of the opinion that for a country with meagre resources as ours, and the dare state our colonial masters left us in, we have indeed come a very long way.

The one area we have certainly make no progress whatsoever is the issue of the Presidency. It beggars belief that in 51 years of nationhood, The Gambia is only in its second republic. The first President of the country was in power for almost 30 years while the incumbent has already clocked over 20 years. And should he win the upcoming general elections slated for December 2016, he will be well on his way to matching or even breaking the record set by the former.

Of course both these leaders are voted in office by majority of the Gambian people, and I do understand that they are simply exercising their constitutional rights. So it is about time for the Gambian populace to realise that the country is a Republican state and not a Monarchy. Amongst 1.8 million people, there is surely more than just 2 qualified individual to govern the country for 51 years.

It is equally the responsibility of our leaders to realise that the country was not fought for, or meant to be ruled by just one particular individual or one particular tribe. The onus is therefore on them to effect a constitutional reform for the enactment of a presidential term limit in order to pave the way for every aspiring and qualified Gambian to stake a contest in the Presidency. May peace, love and tranquillity continue to prevail in the Gambia!