The Fall Before the Come Up

The internal politics of The Gambia had been contentious, divisive and unruly for quite some time. It may be the complete lack of armaments in the country that have prevented it from spilling over into violence. The 1960 election had been a particularly sore point for the Progressive People’s Party, who despite having won the majority of seats lost government due to the UP being supported by eight of the nine chiefs appointed to the legislature. To rub salt in the wound, though the British agreed to hold new elections in 1962, they expanded the power of the traditional Chiefs massively, providing them with a separate chamber equal in power to the one in which the PPP dominated. Though as expected Dawda Jawara’s PPP dominated the lower house, the upper house resulted in an awkward tie, with the combined UP and DCA-aligned chiefs capable of voting down the PPP. The DCA had campaigned as PPP-friendly, but in practice their supporters were opposed to much of Jawara’s radical platform. For the opening months of Gambia’s new parliament this led to deadlock after deadlock as urban elites blocked rural enfranchisement. Frustrated in the legislature and facing increasing criticism from within his party, Jawara began to search for more unconventional solutions.

Enter Modibo Keita, one of the Mali Federation’s more radical politicians and a fervent advocate for the decolonisation of Africa. Seeing the situation across the border, he made a trip, meeting Jawara in his home for a private conversation. As the Gambian Prime Minister vented about the mounting pressure placed on him by the British constitutional amendments, which occurred while he was out of office because of their governor, Keita began steering the conversation towards talk of what to do. He offered a deal that would solve all their problems: unilaterally join the Mali Federation, and Jawara would be free to do away with the chief system and the British who imposed it on him. For Jawara, whose political ambitions were being frustrated at every turn, this was a very enticing proposal, especially with the possibility of federal level cabinet positions.

4:30AM, April 22nd, 1962

Soldiers from the Gambian Field Force, on duty at a border post with the Mali Federation, flicked their torches on and off rapidly for several seconds before going dark. Immediately, the rumble of engines started and several minutes later a dozen trucks began trundling through the now open border gate, flanked by motorcycles. All up and down the border similar scenes were occurring as the Field Force let their Malian brothers stream into the country. Free Africa was welcoming its newest member.

By 5AM, the Governor in Bathurst awoke suddenly to a sharp wrapping on his front door. Upon opening the door, he was greeted by three burly Malian soldiers equipped with their distinct French rifles. The leader of the group looked him up and down. “Please come with us sir”, he said in heavily accented English, gesturing to an idling truck in the driveway. By 9AM, most of the British administration had been rounded up and placed under guard in the Governor’s office with little resistance. Though they were provided with food, water and bedding and left relatively alone within the building, an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty permeated the air. Uninterested in a hostage crisis however, soldiers have hurried the authorities and their families onto several charter flights back to Britain.

Dawda Jawara came over the radio, announcing that the people of The Gambia were now free Africans! Long under the thumb of London, with the help of their African brothers they were free of European chains. With that new found independence continued Jawara, we will realise the goals of pan-Africanism by uniting with our liberators in the Mali Federation. This announcement was met with relatively positive feedback, especially in the countryside. The UP and the High Chiefs, realising that the PPP had eliminated their privileged positions, were not at all pleased. By the end of the day there were protests in Bathurst several thousand strong, and the Chiefs refused to show up to parliament, denying any accession to the Mali Federation legitimacy under the current constitution. Regardless, the PPP representatives present passed a motion declaring The Gambia a constituent member of the Mali Federation. Of more concern for the Malian commanders though was reports of attacks by armed men on military checkpoints. Several nights a week Bathurst residents are awoken by the sound of small but fierce firefights. Currently casualties stand at 8 dead Malian soldiers, 1 civilian and 15 insurgents.

In the aftermath, most people are relatively optimistic about their future, though the Chiefs and their allies continue to protest in various forms, and it seems not everyone is ready to go quietly.