The Gambia (1965–1970)

Between 1965 and 1970, The Gambia was an independent sovereign state that shared its head of state with the United Kingdom and other states headed by Queen Elizabeth II. It was a predecessor to the modern-day republic of The Gambia.

The Gambia
1965–1970
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Progression, Peace, Progress"
Anthem: For The Gambia Our Homeland
Location of the Gambia (red) in Western Africa
Capital	Banjul
Government	Constitutional monarchy
Queen
• 1965–1970	Elizabeth II
Governor-General
• 1965–1966	Sir John Paul
• 1966–1970	Sir Farimang Mamadi Singateh
Prime Minister
• 1965–1970	Sir Dawda Jawara
Historical era	Cold War
• Independence	18 February 1965
• Republic	24 April 1970
Currency	Gambian Pound (from 1966)
ISO 3166 code	GM
Preceded by Succeeded by Gambia Colony and Protectorate The Gambia

Part of a series on the
History of the Gambia
Chronological
Senegambian stone circles Senegambia Takrur Mali Empire Songhai Empire Couronian colonization Albreda Gambia Colony and Protectorate Gambia Independence Act 1964 1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt Senegambia Confederation 1994 Gambian coup d'état 2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt 2016–2017 Gambian constitutional crisis ECOWAS military intervention in the Gambia
Gambia portal

Gambia was given independence from Britain in 1965 under the Gambia Independence Act 1964, which unified the British Crown Colony and Protectorate of the Gambia into an independent sovereign state. The British monarch, Elizabeth II, remained head of state of the Gambia, which shared its Sovereign with other Commonwealth realms. The Queen's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the Governor-General of the Gambia. Governors-general who held office in the Gambia were:

1. John Warburton Paul (18 February 1965 – 9 February 1966)
2. Farimang Mamadi Singateh ( 9 February 1966 – 24 April 1970)

After two referenda on the issue, the monarchy was abolished on 24 April 1970, when the Gambia became a republic within the Commonwealth. The first referendum in 1965, with 65.85% in favour and 34.15 against, failed to reach the two-thirds majority needed to pass. The second in 1970 with 70.45% percent of the Gambian people voting in favour of a republic and 29.55% against, was successful. The Gambia adopted a new constitution in 1970 which abolished the monarchy. Dawda Jawara, the prime minister (and head of government) from 1965, became the first President of the Gambia.

Queen Elizabeth II did not visit the Gambia between 1965 and 1970. She visited in 1961 (3–5 December).