When was Gambian Revolution Day?
Revolution Day was a public holiday in The Gambia on July 22nd until 2017.
It marked the anniversary of President Jammeh coming to power on this day in 1994.
History of Gambian Revolution Day
In 1965, The Gambia gained independence from the United Kingdom, with Sir Dawda Jawara becoming the country's first President.
Jawara ruled for almost three decades before he was deposed by the military in a bloodless coup on July 22nd 1994.
The troops were led by Lieutenant Yahya Jammeh, who went on to become President.
This holiday was created as a way for the people of The Gambia to show support for their president. The idea of a July 22nd holiday was bolstered by announcing different initiatives on this day and organising various cultural events.
However, Presidents don't always rule as long as they would like and their legacy may be viewed differently by those who replace them.
After being defeated in presidential elections, Jammeh was replaced by Adam Barrow in January 2017. This change of leadership led to a change in perspective on the reign of President Jammeh and means that Revolution Day is no longer a public holiday in The Gambia.
