Sir Dawda Jawara became the first President of The Gambia

Sir Dawda Jawara became the first President of The Gambia in 1970, a position he held until 1994. His presidency was marked by the dominance of the People's Democratic Party (PPP), which consistently secured between 55% and 70% of the votes in elections, maintaining a significant majority in the National Assembly. Although competitive politics were theoretically present, in practice, Jawara's leadership created a one-party state where his influence overshadowed opposition. Civil society faced restrictions, and opposition parties struggled to gain traction, often facing the threat of being labeled as subversive. The government exercised control over public communications, leading to allegations of electoral misconduct, including vote-buying and irregularities in the electoral register. A notable instance occurred in 1991 when the People's Democratic Organisation for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) challenged the electoral register's integrity in court, but the case was dismissed on a technicality. Jawara's presidency is a significant chapter in The Gambia's political history, reflecting the complexities of governance and the challenges of democratic processes in a nascent state. #mooflife #mof #MomentOfLife #DawdaJawara #GambiaPolitics #Ppp #One-partyState #ElectoralIrregularities