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The Gambia: Polity Style: 1965-2025
18 Feb 1965 the territories of the Colony of the Gambia and the Protectorate of the Gambia formed together an independent state under the name of The Gambia in accordance with an act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom (House of Commons on 20 Nov 1964; House of Lords on 10 Dec 1964; received Royal Assent on 17 Dec 1964; effective on 18 Feb 1965) (Public General Acts, 1965, Part II, pp. 1368-1375) [1]
18 Feb 1965 the Constitution of the Gambia (contained in the Schedule to the Gambia Independence Order 1965) came into operation immediately before 18 Feb 1965 in accordance with the Gambia Independence Order 1965 made on 29 Jan 1965 (Statutory Instruments, 1965, Part I, Section I, pp. 330-409) [2]
18 Feb 1965 - 24 Apr 1970 The Gambia
24 Apr 1970 the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia, providing for establishment of the Republic of The Gambia (section 1), takes effect on a date prescribed by section 134 (The Gambia Gazette, Extraordinary, Vol. 87, No. 12, Bathurst, 25th April, 1970, p. 77; Supplement "C" to The Gambia Gazette No. 12 of 25th April, 1970, pp. 1-88) [3]
24 Apr 1970 - 18 Oct 1996 Republic of The Gambia
1 Feb 1982 Agreement Between the Republic of The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal Concerning the Establishment of the Senegambian Confederation (signed at Dakar, Senegal, 17 Dec 1981) comes into force on the first day of the month following that in which instruments of ratification are exchanged (1 Feb 1982) as prescribed by Art. 19 of the Agreement [4]
1 Feb 1982 The Gambia formed together with Senegal the Senegambia Confederation (officially: Senegambia Confederation [English], Confédération de la Sénégambie [French])
30 Sep 1989 Senegambia is dissolved
18 Oct 1996 - The Gambia [5][6]

[1] Full title: An Act to make provision for, and in connection with, the attainment by The Gambia of fully responsible status within the Commonwealth (may be cited as the Gambia Independence Act 1964).
[2] The Gambia Gazette, Extraordinary, Bathurst, 4th February, 1965, No. 7, Vol. 82, p. 32; Supplement "A" to The Gambia Gazette No. 7 of 4th February, 1965, pp. 15-105.
[3] Full title: An Act to establish and to make provision for the Constitution of the Republic of The Gambia.
[4] Ratified by the Assemblée nationale of Senegal and National Assembly of The Gambia 29 Dec 1981; instruments of ratification are exchanged 11 Jan 1982.
[5] Referred to as Second Republic of The Gambia in the preface to the Constitution of 1997 and in the Constitution's Schedule 2, section 2.
[6] The Gambia was declared an islamic republic in a statement of the President of the Republic made on 10 Dec 2015 during a public meeting in Brufut. The change of the name to the Islamic Republic of The Gambia was never formalized but this polity style was in limited official use during the tenure of President Jammeh (to 21 Jan 2017).
Last update: 08 May 2025
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