Bathurst (Banjul), The Gambia. 1955-1957
- 1970, 15th January: PPP opens campaign for Republic.
26–27 January: GWU calls unsuccessful general strike.
24 April: Voters approve proposal for a republic in a second referendum. Sir Dawda Jawara became the first president under a new constitution.
May: Radio Syd begin broadcasting.
8 May: P. S.N’Jie replaced as UP leader by his brother, E. D. N’Jie.
1 July: First meeting of House of Representatives under a republic.
20 October: Death of E. D. N’Jie in a car crash; P. S. N’Jie resumes UP leadership.
- 1971, 2nd February: Gambian government sends strong protest to Senegal over the actions of its troops in The Gambia.
15 November: The Gambia supports “Two Chinas” resolution at the United Nations.
- 1972, 12th February: PPA formally dissolved; Sisay and Samba apply to rejoin PPP.
28–29 March: Parliamentary election. PPP further increases its majority, winning 28 seats to UP’s three (one independent also wins).
29 March: Jawara declared president on basis of earlier vote by MPs. 1 July: P. S. N’Jie forfeits seat in House of Representatives for nonattendance.
15 September: Sheriff Dibba resigns as vice president following “butut” affair replaced by Andrew D. (latter Assan Musa) Camara.
9 October: Dibba replaced as minister of finance by I. Garba-Jahumpa.
- 1973: Establishment of Gambia Produce Marketing Board.
March: Agreement on Cultural and Scientific Cooperation signed with Soviet Union.
2 March: Diplomatic relations established with North Korea.
24 April: Name of capital changed from Bathurst to Banjul.
23 June: Census conducted.
25 October: Diplomatic relations severed with Israel following Arab–Israeli War.
- 1974: The Gambia establishes diplomatic relations with Libya.
19–24 February: Jawara attends Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) in Lahore and is elected chairman of OIC.
10–24 July: Senegalese forces arrest around 20 Gambians in separate border incidents, resulting in strong Gambian protests.
14 December: The Gambia establishes diplomatic relations with China.
30 December: Taiwan’s ambassador departs after diplomatic relations broken off.
- 1975: Adoption of First Five-Year Development Plan.
24 May: North Korean embassy opened in Banjul.
28 May: Treaty of Lagos establishes the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) with The Gambia as one of its 15 inaugural members.
28 July–1 August: GWU organizes successful general strike.
29 July: Sheriff Dibba sacked from PPP cabinet.
21August: Dibba expelled from PPP.
7 September: Formation of National Convention Party (NCP).
4 October: Launch of National Liberation Party
- 1979, 8th January: Louise N’Jie appointed as first female parliamentary secretary.
26 April: Special Criminal Court to investigate corruption established.
December: Movement for Justice in Africa–Gambia (MOJA-G) founded.
- 1980, 27th October: Deputy Commander of Gambia Field Force, E. J. Mahoney, murdered by a soldier, Mustapha Danso. 30 October: The Gambia breaks off diplomatic relations with Libya.
31 October: MOJA-G and Gambia Revolutionary Socialist Party declared prohibited organizations.
- 1981, June: African Charter on Human and People’s Rights formally adopted by Organization of African Unity; named the Banjul Charter in recognition of President Jawara’s efforts to achieve it.
30 July: Attempted coup in Banjul by disaffected paramilitary police and radical political opponents of PPP government. Senegalese army intervenes to restore President Jawara to power on orders of President Abdou Diouf.
2 August: Jawara flies into Banjul at end of coup in which an estimated 600 people are killed. State of emergency declared.
19 September: First batch of individuals detained after the coup released without trial.
30 September: Mustapha Danso executed by firing squad for murder of E. J. Mahoney and further killings during 1981 coup; only instance of capital punishment after independence prior to 2012.
17 December: Agreement establishing Senegambia Confederation signed in Dakar by Jawara and Diouf.
29 December: House of Representatives formally ratifies confederation agreement.
- 1982, 1st February: Senegambia Confederation officially inaugurated.
2 February: First death sentences passed in treason trials; all later commuted to life imprisonment. March: PPP holds Third National Congress.
4–5 May: Parliamentary and presidential elections. PPP returned to power with 27 out of 35 seats. Jawara wins first direct presidential election with 72 percent of the vote, defeating Dibba.
11 May: Major cabinet reshuffle. A. M. Camara is replaced as vice president and M. L. Saho as attorney general.
18 June: Sheriff Dibba acquitted of treason.
23 August: Commission of inquiry into External Aid Fund opens.
31 December: Evaluation of Assets and Properties Act passed.
- 31st October: Leadership of The People’s Movement for Independence against Neo-Colonialism and Capitalism (PMINCC) arrested.
- 1984: State of emergency after 1981 coup ends.
26 April: All charges against the PMINCC leadership dropped.
8 November: Gambia National Army (GNA) formally established.
- 1985: Gambia Armed Forces established.
January: Louise N’Jie appointed minister of education, youth, and sport, the first woman to sit in the cabinet.
August: Cabinet approves Economic Recovery Program (ERP).
- 1986, 4th February: M. Camara resigns from PPP.
7 February: M. L. Saho resigns from PPP
29 March: Launch of Gambia People’s Party (GPP) led by Camara.
19 August: Formation of People’s Democratic Organization for Independence and Socialism (PDOIS) at end of inaugural conference.
- 1988, 6th October: Sanna Manneh, editor of The Torch, accuses four ministers, M. C. Cham, Saihou Sabally, Lamin K. Saho, and Landing Jallow Sonko, of corruption.
1989 5 April: Sanna (TICS) Manneh acquitted of libel against Saihou Sabally and Lamin K. Saho.
18 August: Senegalese security personnel in The Gambia stood down.
24 August: President Abdou Diouf announces “freeze” of Senegambia Confederation. 21 September: Jawara signs agreement to suspend confederation.
7 October: Formal dissolution of Senegambia Confederation by House of Representatives.
- 1991, 14th June: First pay mutiny by GNA soldiers
1–4 December: Fifth PPP National Congress held at Mansakonko
4 December: Jawara announces decision to stand down as PPP presidential candidate
17 December: Jawara agrees to contest the 1992 presidential election for PPP.
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