Dauda Kairaba Jawara

Born 1924, in Barajally. Statesman of the Gambia.

In 1953, Jawara graduated from the veterinary college of the University of Glasgow in Great Britain. Having returned to the Gambia in 1954, he entered the government veterinary service and from 1958 to 1960 was Gambia’s chief veterinarian. In December 1959 he founded the People’s Progressive Party and became its leader. From 1960 to 1961 he was minister of education and social welfare and in 1962-63 premier; in October 1963, after Gambia was granted full internal self-government, he was appointed prime minister. From February 1965 he was prime minister of an independent Gambia (and from 1965 to 1967 simultaneously minister of external affairs); since 1970 he has been the president (chief of state and government according to the constitution of 1970).