Today marks 56 years since the Gambia became a republic. On 24 April 1970, our people finally shed the remaining vestiges of colonial domination and became a fully sovereign republic. On this day, the British monarch ceased to be the Head of State of the Gambia.
Executive authority ceased to be vested in a Governor-General appointed by the British Crown. The Gambia ceased to be a dominion under the British Empire.
April 24, 1970, therefore marked the true transfer of sovereignty to the Gambian people. From that day, executive power was vested in a Gambian President, while legislative power was vested in the House of Representatives as the elected institution of the people. It was the day the Gambia became fully independent in substance, authority, and constitutional identity.
EFSCRJ therefore recognizes 24 April 1970 as the true date of Gambian independence, arising from a long struggle pioneered more than a century ago by Edward Francis Small and other patriotic citizens. On this basis, EFSCRJ calls on the Government and citizens to take urgent steps to correct our national history by recognizing and adopting 24 April 1970 as Independence Day.
We hold the view, supported by historical and constitutional evidence, that the perennial misgovernance, underdevelopment, and lack of state accountability in our country are rooted partly in the nature of our independence process, which weakened citizen ownership and participation. By embracing a British-orchestrated independence process that culminated on 18 February 1965, Gambian citizens and leaders have not fully internalized the meaning of sovereignty, republicanism, and citizen power.
For the past six decades, February 18 has been observed largely as a ceremonial holiday, while April 24 has been ignored and erased from national consciousness. Consequently, the ideals that underpin independence, sovereignty and republicanism remain weakly understood. This has contributed to a nation-state in which many citizens prioritize family, ethnic, religious, party, and other sectarian interests above the national interest.
Against this background, and compounded by patriarchy and weak civic education, the Gambia continues to suffer from a weak citizenry on one hand, and a predatory and parasitic state system on the other. The country has failed to build a robust democratic republic rooted in the will and power of the citizenry, committed to freedom, justice, equality, unity, and shared prosperity for all.
On this 56th anniversary of republican independence, EFSCRJ calls on the Government to submit an Independence Bill before the National Assembly to recognize, adopt and institute 24 April 1970 as the sole Independence Day of the Gambia.
We further urge the Government, civil society, political parties, educational institutions, the media, traditional and religious leaders, and all citizens to engage in urgent, open, and nationwide conversations on citizen sovereignty, democracy, and republicanism. Such national reflection is necessary to strengthen civic awareness, deepen citizen participation, build a lawful state, and cultivate a democratic culture rooted in the ideals of sovereignty and republicanism.
April 24 must be restored to its rightful place in Gambian History.
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