Editing The Gambia (section)

==== Independence and formation of the republic ====

The Gambia achieved [[Gambia Independence Act 1964|independence]] on 18 February 1965, as a [[constitutional monarchy]] within the [[Commonwealth of Nations|Commonwealth]], with [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Elizabeth II]] as [[Queen of the Gambia|Queen of The Gambia]], represented by the [[Governor-General of The Gambia|Governor-General]]. Shortly thereafter, the national government held a [[1965 Gambian republic referendum|referendum]] proposing that the country become a [[republic]]. This referendum failed to receive the two-thirds majority required to amend the constitution, but the results won widespread attention abroad as testimony to The Gambia's observance of secret balloting, honest elections, civil rights, and liberties.<ref name=Biz/>

On 24 April 1970, The Gambia became a [[Republic within the Commonwealth]], following a second [[1970 Gambian Republic referendum|referendum]]. Prime Minister Sir [[Dawda Kairaba Jawara]] assumed the office of [[President of the Gambia|President]], an [[Executive Presidency|Executive Post]], combining the offices of [[head of state]] and [[head of government]] which he held since 1962.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Drammeh |first=Seedy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zxzREAAAQBAJ&dq=1970+Prime+Minister+Sir+Dawda+Kairaba+Jawara&pg=PA119 |title=Rethinking Irregular Migration: Causes, Course, Consequences and Corrective Measures |date=14 June 2018 |publisher=African Books Collective |isbn=978-9983-960-42-6 |access-date=4 April 2024 |archive-date=28 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240728053709/https://books.google.com/books?id=zxzREAAAQBAJ&dq=1970+Prime+Minister+Sir+Dawda+Kairaba+Jawara&pg=PA119#v=onepage&q=1970%20Prime%20Minister%20Sir%20Dawda%20Kairaba%20Jawara&f=false |url-status=live }}</ref> President Sir Dawda Jawara was re-elected five times.<ref name=ucdp>UCDP Conflict Encyclopedia</ref>

[[1981 Gambian coup attempt|An attempted coup]] on 29 July 1981 followed a weakening of the economy and allegations of corruption against leading politicians.<ref name=ucdp/> The coup attempt occurred while President Jawara was attending the Royal Wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana in London and was carried out by a rogue group of leftists calling themselves the National Revolutionary Council, composed of [[Kukoi Samba Sanyang]]'s Socialist and Revolutionary Labour Party (SRLP) and elements of the Field Force, a paramilitary force which constituted the bulk of the country's armed forces.<ref name=ucdp/>

President Jawara requested military aid from [[Senegal]], which deployed 400 troops to The Gambia on 31 July. By 6 August, some 2,700 Senegalese troops had been deployed, defeating the rebel force.<ref name=ucdp/> Between 500 and 800 people were killed during the coup and the ensuing violence.<ref name=ucdp/>

In 1982, in the aftermath of the 1981 attempted coup, Senegal and The Gambia signed a treaty of confederation. The [[Senegambia Confederation]] aimed to combine the armed forces of the two states and to unify their economies and currencies. The Gambia permanently withdrew from the confederation in 1989.