Misplaced Pages

#229770

101-622: The population of the city proper is 31,301, with the Greater Banjul Area , which includes the City of Banjul and the Kanifing Municipal Council, at a population of 413,397 (2013 census). The island is connected to the mainland to the west and the rest of Greater Banjul Area via bridges. There are also ferries linking Banjul to the mainland at the other side of the river. From the 19th century until 24 April 1973,

202-437: A garbage truck that collects waste from each household weekly. It uses a digital ticket system to pay for the service. Informal waste collectors use donkey-drawn carts to collect waste from households that are not covered by the project. In 2022, KMC estimated it collected 460 tons of waste per day, of which 57.5% came from households, though this data is imprecise. The city has 370 waste management workers, of whom 227 are under

303-781: A solar energy training program. The primary method of reaching the city by land is by road. A highway connects Banjul to Serrekunda which crosses the Denton Bridge , however ferries provide another mode of transportation. As of May 2014, ferries sail regularly from Banjul across the Gambia River to Barra . The city is served by the Banjul International Airport . Banjul is on the Trans–West African Coastal Highway connecting it to Dakar and Bissau , which will eventually provide

404-581: A 40-square-kilometre (15 sq mi) area that was called British Kombo and was later renamed Kombo St. Mary. It annexed another French cession in 1853. Kombo St. Mary was part of the Gambia Colony. The Protectorate Ordinances, which was passed between 1894 and 1902, transferred Kombo St. Mary to the administration of the Gambia Protectorate . It returned to the Gambia Colony in 1946. The local government area (LGA) of Kombo St. Mary

505-830: A bus depot in Kanifing. Bensouda's government has planned an urban bus system with 50 buses and 20 routes. Kanifing has most of the country's tertiary education institutes, including the University of The Gambia , the American International University West Africa , the Gambia Technical Training Institute , and the Management Development Institute . Construction of Kanifing's library began on 18 August 2022. It will be

606-419: A disgruntled ex-politician turned Marxist, Kukoi Samba Sanyang . The coup, which followed a weakening of the economy and allegations of corruption against leading politicians, occurred on July 29, 1981, and was carried out by the leftist National Revolutionary Council, composed of Kukoi Samba Sanyang's Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party and elements of the "Field Force" (a paramilitary force which constituted

707-513: A grave handicap and one which threatened to overshadow his strengths (most notably, a university education). The two pre-independence challenges to Jawara's position demonstrated his vulnerability and illustrated the fact that he could not rely upon the undivided loyalty of the party's founding members. At independence, Jawara's lieutenants regarded him as their representative, almost a nominal leader, and clearly intended him to promote their personal advancement. Given these circumstances, Jawara's task

808-567: A measure of disappointment set in as the people quickly discovered that their leaders could not deliver on all their promises. During the self-government period of 1962–65, promising overtures were made from Jawara to Senegal . In November 1962, Jawara asked the United Nations (UN) to appoint experts to assess the future of Senegal and The Gambia together, which U Thant , the Secretary-General, agreed to. The British attitude

909-399: A medium- to long-term resource, Jawara initially relied heavily on instrumental ties and distribution of patronage. His limited resource base posed an obvious, though not insurmountable, problem. Within the ruling group, ministerial positions—which provided a generous salary, perks and for some, access to illicit wealth—constituted the most sought after form of patronage and yet, before 1970,

1010-537: A military garrison, had been ordered by Charles MacCarthy . Grant founded Banjul as a trading post and base, constructing houses and barracks for controlling entrance to the Gambia estuary and suppressing the slave trade . The British renamed Banjul Island as St. Mary's Island and named the new town Bathurst, after the 3rd Earl Bathurst , Secretary of State for War and the Colonies at the time. Streets were laid out in

1111-527: A modified grid pattern, and named after Allied generals at the Battle of Waterloo . The town became the centre of British activity in the Gambia Colony and Protectorate . Within a few years of its establishment, the town started attracting migrants. Its population consisted of Africans of various origins, Levantines (Syrians, Lebanese) as well as Europeans (English, French, Portuguese). A majority of

SECTION 10

#1732775830230

1212-450: A nationwide curfew until democracy was reinstated (at least on paper). He returned to The Gambia as an elder statesman, but was forbidden to take part in politics for the rest of his life. He went to Nigeria in 2007 after being selected to head a West African team ( ECOWAS ) to assess Nigeria's preparedness for its April 2007 presidential election . He then took residence in the town of Fajara where he died. On 3 February 2017, Jawara

1313-863: A paved highway link to 11 other nations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). Attractions in the city include the Gambian National Museum , the Albert Market , Banjul State House , Banjul Court House , African Heritage Museum. Banjul is the destination of the Plymouth-Banjul Challenge , a charity road rally. The University of the Gambia was founded in 1999. The places of worship are predominantly Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and congregations: Roman Catholic Diocese of Banjul ( Catholic Church ), Church of

1414-519: A primary motive of intervention. No doubt there was a strong element of opportunism in Sanyang's actions, yet the fact that he seized upon corruption as a suitable justification for his actions reflected increasing public awareness of the problem. Just a month prior to the coup, Reverend Ian Roach had spoken out publicly against corruption, the local press reported numerous instances of low-level bureaucratic theft, and higher up, Jawara's leniency towards

1515-517: A prominent Aku in Bathurst. The Aku, a small and educated group, are descendants of freed slaves who settled in The Gambia after manumission . Despite their relatively small size, they came to dominate both the social, political, and economic life of the colony. Many opponents claim that it was pragmatic, albeit an unusual, fulfillment of Jawara's wish to marry a well-to-do Anglican woman. As

1616-527: A scholarship to an all-boys High School, where he enjoyed all his classes, but showed the greatest aptitude in science and mathematics. Upon matriculation in 1945, he worked as a nurse until 1947 at the Victoria Hospital in Bathurst (now Banjul). The limited career and educational opportunities in colonial Gambia led to a year's stint at Prince of Wales College and School in Achimota , Accra , in

1717-412: A serious contender for political office, different from political parties only in its control over the instruments of violence. Such an atmosphere, however, as the events of 1994 would show, was fertile ground for coups and counter coups. Perhaps more importantly, the creation of a new army diverted limited resources that could have otherwise been used to enhance the strong rural development programmes of

1818-456: A significant part in the survival of the PPP, uniting political, bureaucratic, and business interests in a series of mutually beneficial and supportive relationships. In the longer term, however, it served to undermine the regime. Perhaps the first indication of this occurred in 1981 when, during the coup attempt of that year, Kukoi Samba Sanyang cited “corruption and the squandering of public funds” as

1919-522: A small civil service, staffed mostly by the Aku and urban Wollofs , Jawara, and the PPP sought to build a nation and develop an economy to sustain both farmers and urban dwellers. Many in the rural areas hoped that political independence would bring with an immediate improvement in their life circumstances. These high expectations, as in other newly independent ex-colonies, stemmed partly from the extravagant promises made by some political leaders. In time, however,

2020-570: A somewhat different route to political survival. On the one hand, the PPP needed to win successive multi-party elections. On the other, Jawara's rejection of coercion as a survival technique meant that overt public challenges could not simply be suppressed; it was vital the latent threat posed by specific societal groups remain dormant. Fortunately, Jawara did have a great deal of public support. In December 1991, Jawara announced that he would not seek re-election in 1992 . After 30 years of leading his country, he decided to retire. However, his announcement

2121-451: A veterinary officer, Jawara traveled the length and breadth of The Gambia for months vaccinating cattle. In the process, he established valuable social contacts and relationships with the relatively well-to-do cattle owners in the protectorate. This group, with the district chiefs and village heads, in later years formed the bulk of his initial political support. As noted, British colonial policy at that time divided The Gambia into two sections;

SECTION 20

#1732775830230

2222-461: A year after the ERP was established, the revival of The Gambian economy had begun. The government reduced its budget deficit, increased its foreign exchange reserves, and eliminated its debt service arrears. Under the ERP, economic opportunities became more abundant, and many private businessmen and public officials turned to illegal means to make profit. Corruption created a serious legitimacy crisis for

2323-520: Is divided into two districts: Banjul is the country's economic and administrative centre and includes the Central Bank of the Gambia . Peanut processing is the country's principal industry, but beeswax , palm wood , palm oil , and skins and hides are also shipped from the port of Banjul. Banjul is also the home of the Gambia Technical Training Institute . GTTI is engaged in a partnership with non-profit organization Power Up Gambia to develop

2424-489: Is further divided into seventy-four sub-wards, each led by a sub-ward chairman. The municipality has seven parliamentary constituencies : Serekunda East , Serekunda West , Serekunda Central , Jeshwang , Bakau , Latrikunda Sabiji , and Tallinding . Talib Ahmed Bensouda  [ de ] , a member of the United Democratic Party , was elected Lord Mayor of Kanifing in the 2018 election , and

2525-523: Is the main commercial area of the Gambia, and is the district with the highest concentration of industry, hosting a large industrial estate. Most of the Gambia's hotels and coastal resorts lie within the municipality, as does Independence Stadium , the national football stadium. While government administration is an important part of the economy, 50.8% of the workforce is employed in the private sector. Altogether, 32.5% of workers are in wholesale and retail trade, 13% in manufacturing and 17.5% in services. Of

2626-547: The Köppen climate classification , Banjul features a tropical wet and dry climate ( Aw ). The city features a lengthy dry season , spanning from November to May and a relatively short wet season covering the remaining five months. However, during those five months, Banjul tends to see heavy rainfall. August is usually the rainiest month, with on average 350 millimetres or 14 inches of rainfall. Maximum temperatures are somewhat constant, though morning minima tend to be hotter during

2727-793: The Mandinka people gathered on the island. In 1651, Banjul was leased by the Duke of Courland and Semigallia ( German : Herzog von Kurland und Semgallen ) from the King of Kombo , as part of the Couronian colonization . On 23 April 1816, Tumani Bojang , the King of Kombo , ceded Banjul Island to Alexander Grant , the British commandant, in exchange for an annual fee of 103 iron bars. Grant's expedition, consisting of 75 men and tasked with establishing

2828-494: The National Sports Council . Kanifing is twinned with: Madison has provided funding for Kanifing's garbage trucks and its public library. Dawda Jawara Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara GCMG (16 May 1924 – 27 August 2019 ) was a Gambian politician who served as prime minister from 1962 to 1970, and then as the first President of The Gambia from 1970 to 1994, when he was deposed . Jawara

2929-478: The United Kingdom in 1965. He remained as prime minister and Elizabeth II remained as head of state as Queen of The Gambia . In 1970, The Gambia became a republic, and Jawara was elected as its first president. The greatest challenge to Jawara's power came in 1981 when an attempted coup d'état took place and soldiers from neighbouring Senegal were forced to intervene, with 400 to 800 deaths reported by

3030-584: The University of Edinburgh . He returned to The Gambia in 1953 and married Augusta Mahoney , beginning work as a veterinary officer. He entered politics and became secretary of the new People's Progressive Party (PPP) and was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1960 election . He became the leader of the PPP and then the country's first prime minister in 1962, only the second-ever head of government following Pierre Sarr N'Jie 's term as Chief Minister. Under Jawara, The Gambia gained independence from

3131-806: The African Students Association and was later elected secretary-general and president, respectively. Also, while at Glasgow, Jawara honed his political interests and skills by joining the Student Labour Party Organization, Forward Group, and became active in labour politics of the time. Though never a "leftist", Jawara immersed himself in the Labour Party ’s socialist politics and ideology. At Glasgow Jawara met Cheddi Jagan , who later became Premier of British Guiana , now Guyana . Jawara classified this period in his life “as very interesting politically”. It

Banjul - Misplaced Pages Continue

3232-858: The Crime Management Coordinator of KMC is Pateh Bah, who has held the position since its creation in 2017 by the Adama Barrow administration. The Law Court Complex in Bundung houses the High Court, the Magistrates Court, and the Cadi Court. Kanifing Magistrates Court functions as the Children's Court on Tuesdays and Thursdays, despite the constitution providing for a full-time juvenile court . Kanifing

3333-526: The ESU and 143 are under the Mbalit project, As of 2022 . Bensouda called waste management his number-one priority as mayor. KMC developed a five-year waste management plan (2017 to 2021) in consultation with the community and the private sector. It focussed on public awareness, new waste-sorting strategies, expanded household waste collection, job creation, and partnerships with informal waste management. It created

3434-712: The Economic Recovery Program (ERP), one of the most comprehensive economic adjustment programmes devised by any country in sub-Saharan Africa. With the aid of a team of economists from the Harvard Institute for International Development and the International Monetary Fund , The Gambia greatly reformed the economic structure of the country. Under ERP, in 1985–86, the deficit was 72 million Dalasis, and it increased to 169 million Dalasis in 1990–91. However, by mid-1986, just

3535-451: The Gambia's immigrants and 35% of the country's internal migrants. The total number of immigrants was 33,790, of whom 34% were from Senegal and 25% were from Guinea. In Kanifing and Banjul, the Wolof language is spoken as a lingua franca in multi-ethnic groups, rather than Mandinka as in the rest of the country. Kanifing has 19 settlements: Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC) is led by

3636-580: The Kombo St. Mary's areas. At a meeting in 1959 at Basse, a major commercial town almost at the end of The Gambia River, the leadership of the People's Progressive Society decided to change its name to challenge the urban-based parties and their leaders. Thus was born the Protectorate People's Party. The same year, a delegation headed by Sanjally Bojang (a well-off patron and founding member of

3737-677: The LGA's 251,712 people who are 15 or older, 122,726 are in the labour force , including 108,474 who are employed and 14,252 who are unemployed. The unemployment rate among workers aged 15 to 35 is 6.5%, relatively low for the Gambia, although within this age range over 20% of those with higher education are unemployed. Child labour affects 3.5% of children aged 5–11, 9.7% aged 12–14, and 14.6% aged 15–17. Bensouda's government has planned an affordable housing project to build 8,000 homes. The Local Government Act (the Gambia) 2002 gives municipalities

3838-473: The Lord Mayor of Kanifing, who has administrative duties. Ward councillors manage social and economic duties. KMC is divided into 18 wards: Abuko, Bakau New Town, Bakoteh, Bantaba Bore Hole, Bartez, Bundung Six Junction, Dippa Kunda, Fajikunda, Kanifing, Kololi, Latrikunda Sabiji, London Corner, Manjai Kotu, New Jeshwang/Ebo Town, Old Bakau/Cape Point, Old Jeshwang, Tallinding North, and Tallinding South. It

3939-686: The Mbalit project, the first household-waste-collection programme in the Gambia. With a grant from the European Union , Bensouda launched the Kanifing Environmental Transformation Programme (KETP), which donated waste-collection equipment to the initiative. It set up 10 communal skip bins and reduced the number of illegal dumpsites from 65 to 17. The programme's success improved the government's image. The Gambia Transport Service Company , which runs international buses to Dakar and Bissau , has

4040-534: The PPP (nicknamed the Banjul Mafia) were seen as the culprits responsible for corruption in the public sector. Driven to make profit, many elites did not refrain from manipulating state power to maintain a lifestyle of wealth and privilege. Corruption had become a serious problem in The Gambia, especially during the last two years of the PPP rule. By 1992, The Gambia was one of the poorest countries in Africa and

4141-431: The PPP and Jawara would supersede the urban-based parties and their leaders. This change is what Arnold Hughes termed a "Green Revolution", a political process in which a rural elite emerges to challenge and defeat an urban-based political petty-bourgeoisie. Jawara's ascendance to the leadership of the party was hardly contested. As one of the few university graduates from the protectorate, the only other possible candidate

Banjul - Misplaced Pages Continue

4242-596: The PPP government. The confederation collapsed in 1989. Jawara did not resort to the authoritarian and often punitive backlash that follows coups in most of Africa. Instead, he made overtures of reconciliation, with judicious and speedy trial and subsequent release of over 800 detainees. Individuals who received death sentence convictions were committed to life in prison instead, and many prisoners were released for lack of sufficient evidence. More serious offenders were tried by an impartial panel of judges drawn from Anglophone Commonwealth countries. International goodwill toward

4343-510: The PPP's survival, Jawara did not rely on elite-level resource distribution as heavily as some of his counterparts. For many years observers viewed corruption in The Gambia as significantly less prevalent than in many other African states. In retrospect, this view appears overstated, though it is true that corruption did not reach the heights seen elsewhere. Jawara himself refrained from excessive self-enrichment and many of his lieutenants followed suit. Conflicting survival imperatives—in particular,

4444-399: The PPP. Several cases of corruption were revealed and these seriously indicted the PPP regime. The Gambia Commercial Development Bank collapsed, largely due to its failure to collect loans. The Asset Management and Recovery Corporation (AMRC) was set up under an Act of Parliament in 1992, but the PPP government was not willing to use its influence to assist AMRC in its recovery exercise. This

4545-551: The Province of West Africa ( Anglican Communion ), Assemblies of God . Kanifing Kanifing is a municipality, local government area and district in the Gambia. It is part of the Greater Banjul Area , to the west of Banjul , and is governed by Kanifing Municipal Council (KMC). The population of Kanifing expanded in the post-colonial era, and it is now one of the country's most-densely populated places and its most-populated district. It received many migrants from

4646-579: The aborted coup and the successful restoration of Jawara by Senegalese troops, Presidents Diouf and Jawara, at a joint press conference, announced plans for the establishment of the Senegambian Confederation . In December 1981, five months after the foiled coup, the treaties of confederation were signed in Dakar. The speed with which the treaties were signed and the lack of input from the bulk of The Gambian population suggested to many that

4747-465: The arrangement was an exercise in political expedience. President Jawara was under great pressure because of the repercussions of the aborted coup and the Senegalese government. Under the treaty with Senegal, Diouf served as president and Jawara as his vice president. A confederal parliament and cabinet were set up with several ministerial positions going to The Gambia. Additionally, a new Gambian army

4848-494: The availability of jobs fuelled by British colonial activities as well as social activities such as cinemas. Young men from rural farming villages would move to Bathurst to work at the Public Works Department (established in 1922) or docks. The town was an important Allied naval and air hub during World War II , resulting in an increase in population from 14,370 in 1931 to 21,154 in 1944. After independence,

4949-420: The bulk of the country's armed forces). President Jawara immediately requested military aid from Senegal which deployed 400 troops to The Gambia on July 31, and by August 6 2,700 Senegalese troops had been deployed and they had defeated the coup leaders' forces. Between 500 and 800 people were killed during the coup and the resulting violence. The attempted coup reflected the desire for change, at least on

5050-477: The city was known as Bathurst . There are several etymologies for 'Banjul.' One traditional history recounts that Bandjougou, son of Barafin, came to the island after fleeing the attacks of Soumaoro Kante on the Manding region . His name became attached to the island, and over time changed to 'Bandjoulou'. Another theory claims that Banjul takes its name from Bang julo , the Mandinka word for rope fibre that

5151-585: The climate of Banjul in the year 2050 would most closely resemble the current climate of Bamako in Mali . The annual temperature would increase by 2 °C (3.6 °F), and the temperature of the warmest month by 3.3 °C (5.9 °F), while the temperature of the coldest month would actually decrease by 1.2 °C (2.2 °F). According to Climate Action Tracker , the current warming trajectory appears consistent with 2.7 °C (4.9 °F), which closely matches RCP 4.5. Banjul Division (Greater Banjul Area)

SECTION 50

#1732775830230

5252-482: The colony and the protectorate. Adults in the colony area, which included Bathurst and the Kombo St. Mary sub-regions, were franchised, while their counterparts in the protectorate were not. Political activity and representation at the Legislative Council were limited to the colony. At the time of his return to The Gambia, politics in the colony were dominated by a group of urban elites from Bathurst and

5353-516: The country's demographics. Islamic schools called dara were founded in Bathurst from its early years, resulting in the foundation of the first Muslim court in 1905, in addition to the increasingly more sophisticated British legal framework. Bathurst was officially declared the capital of the Protectorate of the Gambia in 1889, leading to an increase in population. Through the 20th century, it became an even greater attraction for Gambians due to

5454-523: The country's first municipal library. It is an initiative of Bensouda and the KETP, with funding from Peterborough City Council in England. The project cost 45 million dalasi . The Kanifing Municipal Sports Committee (KM Sport) is one of the Gambia's seven regional sports organisations. Its chairperson, who is elected from the chairpersons of its constituent district sport committees, represents Kanifing in

5555-507: The country's largest urban area, is in Kanifing. Kanifing Municipality has a population of 377,134, as of the 2013 census, making it the country's most-populated and most-densely populated district. The 2023 population estimate is 391,270, the sex ratio is 1:1 and the mean household size is 6.7. There are 40,367 people (11.63% of the population) in poverty, 3,340 (1.0%) in extreme poverty , and 117,648 (33.9%) in food poverty . The predominantly rural Mandinka people moved to cities in

5656-507: The country's urbanisation rate from 23% in 1973 to 37% in 1993. This expansion led to higher property values and foreign investment. Kanifing is one of the eight LGAs of the Gambia , and is only one that contains only one district . The LGA has a land area of 75.5 km (29.2 sq mi). It lies immediately west of the capital city Banjul ; this joint conurbation is known as the Greater Banjul Area. Serekunda ,

5757-420: The dominant sectors and also the main sources of foreign exchange, employment, and income for the country. Thanks to the growing economy, the government introduced in the 1970s the policy of 'Gambianisation', which led to an expansion of the state's role in the economy. There was a 75 percent increase in total government employment over the period from 1975 to 1980. In mid-1985, The Gambia under Jawara initiated

5858-514: The dump but it is sometimes blocked by waterlogging in the rainy season. Many residents of the area around the dumpsite make a living from informal recycling . KMC has planned to establish a new dumpsite and turn the old one into a transfer station . In 2021, it conducted a pilot program to compost the organic waste in the dump and convert it to biofuel . The Mbalit project (meaning waste in Wolof) collects household waste; it assigns each ward

5959-571: The economies like the Gambia. The most striking consequence of the aborted coup was the intervention of the Senegalese troops at the request of Jawara, as a result of the defense treaty signed between the two countries in 1965. At the time of the aborted coup, Jawara was attending the Wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer in London and flew immediately to Dakar to consult with President Abdou Diouf . While Senegal's intervention

6060-551: The end of the coup attempt. Following the coup attempt, Jawara and Senegalese President Abdou Diouf announced the creation of the Senegambia Confederation , but it proved to be short-lived and ultimately collapsed eight years later in 1989. Jawara continued to rule until 1994 when a coup d'état led by Yahya Jammeh seized power. Following this, he went into exile, but returned in 2002, and lived in retirement in The Gambia until his death in 2019. Dawda Jawara

6161-468: The fruits of their labour. The secondary factor of ethno-regional considerations compounded this resentment; those who were co-opted came from all ethnic groups in the former colony and protectorate. Jawara's popular support and cultivation of affective ties were crucial for easing the pressure on scarce patronage resources. Although the skillful distribution of patronage and associated tolerance of corruption (to be discussed later) played an important role in

SECTION 60

#1732775830230

6262-429: The largest landfill in the country, collects all waste from the Greater Banjul Area. It was created as part of a defunct mining operation. It is overfilled and does not have modern disposal systems. It is located in a densely populated area near Bakoteh, Dippa Kunda and Manjai Kunda. The dumpsite's environmental impacts include methane fires, water contamination, and odour. The city hires bulldozers to transport waste to

6363-401: The ministers and civil servants towards the end of the 1970s was widely resented. The increased public awareness of corruption weakened the PPP regime and furnished the 1994 conspirators with a suitable pretext for intervention. Since many soldiers reportedly regarded their unsatisfactory living conditions as a manifestation of corruption, it also gave them a motive. Jawara may have underestimated

6464-493: The need for foreign aid and popular support, both of which were unlikely to be forthcoming under a thoroughly corrupt regime, persuaded Jawara to set some limits on “allowable” corruption. The possibility of exposure in parliament or by the press provided a further constraint. Nevertheless, events during the closing years of the People's Progressive Party rule together with post-coup revelations and inquiries suggest that corruption

6565-427: The new party), Bokarr Fofanah and Madiba Janneh, arrived at Abuko to inform Jawara of his nomination as secretary of the party. Jawara resigned his position as chief veterinary officer in order to contest the 1960 election. The Protectorate People's Party was renamed the People's Progressive Party (PPP) to make the party inclusive as opposed to the generally held perception of it being a Mandinka-based party. Over time,

6666-463: The number of ministerial posts did not exceed seven. By 1992, the number remained a comparatively modest fourteen. Despite these limits, Jawara skillfully used all the various permutations of patronage distribution (appointment, promotion, termination, demotion, and rehabilitation) to dramatise his power over subordinates’ political futures and entrench himself as a leader. In response to the pre-1965 challenges to his authority, Jawara moved to reduce

6767-495: The part of some civilians and their allies in the Field Force. Despite Kukoi's failure to assume power, the attempted coup revealed major weaknesses within the ruling PPP and society as a whole. The hegemony of the PPP, contraction of intra-party competition, and growing social inequalities were factors that could not be discounted. Also crucial to the causes of the aborted coup was a deteriorating economy whose major victims were

6868-639: The population was Muslim but there was a significant Christian minority, including the Aku inhabitants . The majority of the Africans consisted of Wolof people , whose population rose from 829 in 1881 to 3,666 in 1901 and then 10,130 in 1944. They had mainly hailed from Gorée and Saint-Louis . The Mandinka were the second largest African group, followed by the Jola as well as the Fula . The Serer people make up 3.5% of

6969-416: The population were living in absolute poverty. Structural adjustment programmes implemented in response to the economic crisis resulted in government fragmentation, privatisation, less patronage in co-opting various groups and growing corruption. The 30 years the PPP regime operated with diminished resources and therefore could no longer rule as it always had. The credibility of the competitive party system

7070-450: The post-colonial era. Kanifing's share of the Gambia's Mandinka population increased from 3% in 1963 to 16% in 1993. In 1993, Kanifing had about a third of the country's Jola people , about a quarter of Serahuli people , nearly a third of Serer people , and the majority of Aku people . It had nearly half of the country's Christians. The population has grown through both internal migration and immigration, being home in 2013 to 30% of

7171-483: The provincial capital, but this boarding school was reserved for the sons of the chiefs. Around 1933, young Jawara's formal education was sponsored by a friend of his father, a trader named Ebrima Youma Jallow, whose trading post was across the street from Alammi's in Wally-Kunda. Dawda was enrolled at Mohammedan primary school where he was taught by I.M. Garba-Jahumpa . After graduation from Mohammedan, Jawara won

7272-415: The real risk a new army would pose to himself and the country, and in fact, may have dragged his feet in dealing accordingly with corruption. To this accusation he responded: I believe in the rule of law and democracy. We are a poor country where petty jealousies exist. One buys a car or builds a house, so he must be corrupt, and Jawara did not do anything. I am expected to serve as a judge and policeman at

7373-436: The regime was immediate and generous and before long, Jawara had begun a process of political and economic reconstruction of the country. The Gambia was incorporated into the world economy as a supplier of agricultural exports (largely groundnuts) and tourism. Since independence, there has been little change in the structure of the economy, which remains very heavily dependent on groundnut production. Agriculture and tourism are

7474-451: The responsibility for waste management . The Environment and Sanitation Unit (ESU), part of KMC's Directorate of Services, is responsible for waste and other environmental health issues. The ESU performs daily street cleaning and collects market waste and waste from public facilities, and clears illegal dumps. KMC, which spends 25% of its budget on waste management, has no official waste-separation or recycling programmes. Bakoteh Dumpsite ,

7575-473: The rest of the Gambia and abroad. Kanifing is the economic centre of the Gambia, and Serekunda is its largest population center. Tourism is a major industry, and here are several higher education institutes, including the University of the Gambia . Sayerr Jobe founded Serekunda , the first settlement in the forested area, in the nineteenth century. He helped establish other settlements in Kanifing, including Bundung and Ebo Town . In 1840, France ceded

7676-681: The same time. At the Cooperative Union, it was agreed that a Presidential Commission be established to investigate the alleged corruption. Action was taken, then the coup occurred. We must let the law take its course. We were serious to run a government according to the rule of law and for this we were highly rated and respected. Many African leaders are aware of the positive relationship between popular support and elite acquiescence. However, resource shortages had more likely than not persuaded leaders to priorities in favour of elites. In The Gambia, two additional factors persuaded Jawara to pursue

7777-424: The size, cohesion, and authority of the founding members as a group. Many of the party's earliest adherents (even those who showed no outward sign of disloyalty) lost ministerial posts during the early years of PPP rule. Jawara may not have used force, but neither was he hampered by sentiment; his pragmatism and willingness to demote, or even drop, former supporters in order to strengthen his personal political position

7878-429: The then Gold Coast , where he studied science. While at Prince of Wales College and School (popularly known as Achimota College ), Jawara showed little interest in politics at a time when Ghana and many colonies in Africa were beginning to become restless for political independence or internal self-government. While he was happy to have met Ghana's founding father, Kwame Nkrumah , the impact did not prove significant at

7979-440: The time. After attending Achimota College, Jawara won a scholarship to Scotland's Glasgow University to study veterinary medicine. At the time, colonial education was intended to train Africans for the most menial of clerical tasks in the civil service. And it was rare for Gambians to be awarded scholarships in the sciences. It was at Glasgow University in the late 1940s, that Jawara's interest in politics began. In 1948 he joined

8080-443: The town's name was changed to Banjul in 1973. On 22 July 1994, Banjul was the scene of a bloodless military coup d'état in which President Sir Dawda Jawara was overthrown and replaced by Yahya Jammeh . To commemorate this event, Arch 22 was built as an entrance portal to the capital. The gate is 35 metres tall and stands at the centre of an open square. It houses a textile museum . Banjul features hot weather year round. Under

8181-425: The urban youth in particular. In his 1981 New Year message, Jawara explained The Gambia's economic problems thus: We live in a world saddled with massive economic problems. The economic situation has generally been characterized by rampant inflation, periods of excessive monetary instability, and credit squeeze...soaring oil prices and commodity speculation. These worldwide problems have imposed extreme limitations on

8282-477: The wet season than the dry season. According to a Gambian government minister, Banjul is at risk of submerging under water by a metre rise in sea levels as a result of climate change and global warming. A 2019 paper published in PLOS One estimated that under Representative Concentration Pathway 4.5 , a "moderate" scenario of climate change where global warming reaches ~2.5–3 °C (4.5–5.4 °F) by 2100,

8383-403: The world, with a 45-year life expectancy at birth, an infant mortality rate of 130 per 1000 live births, a child mortality rate of 292 per 1000, and an under-five mortality rate of 227 per 1000. At that time, 120 out of every 1000 live births died of malaria. The Gambia also had a 75 percent illiteracy rate, only 40 percent of the population had access to potable water supply, and over 75 percent of

8484-563: Was Dr. Lamin Marena from Kudang. In 1962, Jawara became prime minister , which laid the foundation for PPP and Jawara domination of The Gambia's political landscape. With Jawara's rise to power after the 1962 elections, the colonial administration began a gradual withdrawal from The Gambia, and self-government was granted in 1963. Jawara was appointed prime minister in the same year, and independence came on February 18, 1965. This completed The Gambia's peaceful transition from colonial rule. With

8585-444: Was a moment of rising Pan-Africanist fervour and personal growth politically. He completed his studies in 1953. He later returned to Scotland to gain a further diploma in tropical veterinary medicine at the University of Edinburgh in 1957. When Jawara returned home in 1953 after completing his studies as a veterinary surgeon, he first served as a veterinary officer. In 1955 he married Augusta Mahoney , daughter of Sir John Mahoney,

8686-771: Was a well-to-do trader from an aristocratic family who commuted from Barajally Tenda to his trading post in Wally Kunda. His family, the Jawaras, had once served as members of the Gbara of Old Mali . Dawda from an early age attended the local Arabic schools to memorize the Quran , a rite of passage for many Gambian children. There were no primary schools in Barajally Tenda: the nearest was in Georgetown (Janjanbureh),

8787-430: Was also crucial. Within his own party Jawara was fortunate to be surrounded by individuals willing to refrain from violence to achieve their goals, and yet much of the credit for this restraint must go to Jawara—his skillful manipulation of patronage resources, cultivation of affective ties and shrewd balancing of factions within the PPP. Lacking the coercive option, and given that affective ties, which had to be earned, were

8888-450: Was apparent. Jawara further strengthened his political position with the incorporation of new sources of support within the ruling group. His enthusiasm for political accommodation stemmed from the closely related imperatives of weakening the influence of the PPP's original members and avoiding political isolation. The original group resented the fact that newcomers had not participated in the early struggle for power and yet were now enjoying

8989-712: Was born in Barajally , MacCarthy Island Division , now the Central River Region. He is the son of Mamma Fatty and Almami Jawara. He was educated at the Methodist Boys' School in Banjul (Bathurst) and then attended Achimota College in Ghana . He trained as a veterinary surgeon at the University of Glasgow 's School of Veterinary Medicine , then completed his training at the University of Liverpool and

9090-415: Was born in 1924 to Almammi Jawara and Mamma Fatty in the village of Barajally Tenda in the central river region of The Gambia, approximately 240 kilometres (150 mi) from the capital, Banjul , then called Bathurst. One of six sons, Dawda was the last born on his mother's side and a younger brother to sister Na Ceesay and brothers Basaddi and Sheriffo Jawara. Their father Almammi, who had several wives,

9191-493: Was both a significant phenomenon and one which played an important role in the PPP's survival. Jawara understood the political advantages of corruption. Fundamentally, corruption formed an important component of the patronage network, facilitating elite accumulation. It provided a means of creating and sustaining mutually beneficial and supportive relationships between PPP politicians (headed by Jawara), senior civil servants, and Gambian businessmen. Initially, then, corruption played

9292-420: Was created as part of a new confederate army. The creation of a new Gambian army was cause for concern for many observers. Such an institution, it was felt, would by no means diminish the recurrence of the events of July 30, 1981, nor would it guarantee the regime's stability. By agreeing to the creation of an army, Jawara had planted the very seeds of his eventual political demise. The army would in time become

9393-497: Was created in the 1960s from part of the Brikama LGA, and was the eighth LGA to be established. Kombo Rural Authority was renamed Kanifing Urban District Council in 1974 and Kanifing Municipal Council in 1991. Kanifing grew significantly in the post-colonial era. This was largely caused by immigration from nearby countries; in 1993, foreign nationals made up 20% of the LGA's population. Kanifing's growth led to an increase in

9494-399: Was deemed "bloodless". Jawara escaped unharmed: he was taken to Senegal by an American warship that was in the area when the coup began. Jawara had hoped that his work would create an economically prosperous society based on his priorities: democracy, unity, and tolerance for personal differences. However, the new self-appointed, five-man ruling council dissolved the constitution and established

9595-448: Was met with panic, so he consented to stand for re-election again. The question of his retirement continued to loom over The Gambia's political future, however, and dissent mounted. He was re-elected with 56% of the vote. On 22 July 1994, a group of soldiers led by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh stormed the capital. The coup was successful and Jawara was exiled until 2002. Compared with the previous attempt to overthrow Jawara, though, this coup

9696-456: Was ostensibly to rescue President Jawara's regime, it had the effect of undermining Gambian sovereignty, which was something that had been jealously guarded by Gambians and Jawara in particular. Yet it was relinquished expediently. The presence of Senegalese troops in Banjul was testimony to Jawara's growing reliance on Senegal, which consequently was a source of much resentment. Three weeks after

9797-472: Was particularly embarrassing because the people and organisations with the highest loans were close to PPP. In an embezzlement scheme at The Gambia Cooperative Union (GCU), fraud was revealed in Customs, and through the process of privatisation, it was discovered that many dummy loans had been given to well-connected individuals at GCDB. A group of para-statal heads and big businessmen closely associated with

9898-463: Was re-elected in the 2023 election . He is the son of lawyer Amie Bensouda . Talib Ahmed Bensouda succeeded Yankuba Colley as Lord Mayor. The Deputy Mayor of KMC is Binta Janneh Jallow, who is the first woman to hold the position. Jallow, who was previously the ward councillor of Bakau New Town, was appointed to the post in July 2021 to replace Pa Musa Bah, who had resigned. As of February 2024 ,

9999-403: Was said to be one of "friendly encouragement". In March 1964, following a visit from Léopold Sédar Senghor , intentions to coordinate The Gambia's and Senegal's economic programmes were announced. Particular focus was to be placed on the field of agriculture. The greatest challenge to Dawda Jawara's rule (other than the coup that ended his power in 1994) was an attempted coup in 1981, headed by

10100-601: Was severely challenged as Jawara's PPP was unable to show that good economic management could lead to benefits for the majority of society. Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, the first President of The Gambia, played a significant role in shaping the country's early economic policies following its independence from British colonial rule in 1965. During his tenure, which lasted until 1994, government focused on various economic reforms aimed at promoting stability, development, and growth in The Gambia. With Jawara's precarious hold on power at Gambian independence, his low caste status constituted

10201-485: Was to overcome his low caste status, assert his authority over the party, and secure control over its political direction. In doing this, he did not use coercion. Politically inspired “disappearances” were never an element of PPP rule; neither opponents nor supporters suffered harassment or periods of detention on fabricated charges. That Jawara was able to eschew coercive techniques and still survive reflected an element of good fortune, and yet his skillful political leadership

#229770