The Gambia: Heads of State: 1970-2019 President of the Republic of The Gambia 24 Apr 1970 - 22 Jul 1994 Dawda Kairaba Jawara [1][2] Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council 22 Jul 1994 - 26 Jul 1994 Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh [3] Head of State and Chairman of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council 26 Jul 1994 - 18 Oct 1996 Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (x) [4] President of The Gambia 18 Oct 1996 - Yahya Abdul-Azziz Jemus Junkung Jammeh (x) [1] Original name: Saihou Jawara; later: David Kwesi Jawara. [2] Chairman of the National Revolutionary Council (in dissidence) 30 Jul 1981 - 5 Aug 1981 Kukoi Samba Sanyang [3] Original name: Yahya Alphonse Jemus Jebulai Jammeh. [4] Retroactive to 22 Jul 1994. Last updated on: 25 Jan 2012 10:06:05