View source for 1994 Gambian coup d'état

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{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict    = 1994 Gambian coup d'état
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| date        = {{Start date and age|1994|07|22|df=yes}}
| place       = [[The Gambia]]
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| result      = Coup successful
{{bulleted list|Government of [[Dawda Jawara]] is overthrown|[[Military junta]] [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council|established]]|[[Yahya Jammeh]] installed as president}}
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| combatant1  = {{flagicon|The Gambia}} [[Government of the Gambia]]
| combatant2  = [[Military of the Gambia|Military]] faction<br>'''Supported by:'''<br>{{flag|Libya|1977}} (alleged)
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| commander1  = {{flagicon|The Gambia}} [[Dawda Jawara]]
| commander2  = [[Yahya Jammeh]]
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}}{{Yahya Jammeh sidebar}}{{History of the Gambia}}
In the '''1994 Gambian coup d'état''', a group of soldiers led by 29-year-old Lieutenant [[Yahya Jammeh]] seized power in a bloodless [[coup d'état]] on the morning of 22 July, ousting [[Dawda Jawara]], who had been [[President of the Gambia|President]] of [[The Gambia]] since it became a Republic in 1970.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/08/28/world/in-gambia-new-coup-follows-old-pattern.html|title=In Gambia, New Coup Follows Old Pattern|last=French|first=Howard W.|date=28 August 1994|work=[[The New York Times]]|access-date=26 November 2018}}</ref>

== Background ==
The coup of 1994 was spontaneous; it was not planned but rather a mutiny that eventually turned into a coup.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=The Paradox of Third-Wave Democratization in Africa: The Gambia Under AFPRC-APRC Rule, 1994–2008|url=https://archive.org/details/paradoxthirdwave00sain|url-access=limited|last=Saine|first=Abdoulaye|publisher=Lexington Books|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7391-2921-0|location=Plymouth, UK|pages=[https://archive.org/details/paradoxthirdwave00sain/page/n33 23]–36}}</ref> The mutiny had been planned the night before its execution, leaving much to chance.<ref name=":2" /> Despite its spontaneity, the sentiments behind the coup had been developing since the [[1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt|attempted coup of 1981]].<ref name=":2" /> The primary complaints of supporters of the coup included the delegitimization of the government, the lack of accountability, its overall ineffectiveness, and the corruption that pervaded it.<ref name=":1" />

=== Declining legitimacy of the government ===
In the 1992 election, the [[People's Progressive Party (The Gambia)|People's Progressive Party]] (PPP) maintained a comfortable 58.2% share of the vote; there was, however, a sharp decline in government legitimacy almost immediately after the election.<ref>{{cite book|title=Elections in Africa: A data handbook |url=https://archive.org/details/electionsafricad00nohl |url-access=limited |last1=Dieter |first1=Nohlen |last2=Krennerich |first2=Michael |last3=Thibaut |first3=Bernhard |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999 |isbn=978-0-19-829645-4 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/electionsafricad00nohl/page/n436 420]}}</ref> Citizens increasingly felt that the government was no longer responsive to their needs and had been acting in its own self-interest.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=A Political History of the Gambia 1816–1994|last1=Hughes|first1=Arnold|last2=Perfect|first2=David|publisher=University of Rochester Press|year=2006|isbn=978-1-58046-230-3|location=Rochester, NY|pages=[https://archive.org/details/politicalhistory0000hugh/page/280 280–295]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/politicalhistory0000hugh/page/280}}</ref> Citizens argued that the government had become complacent as a result of its comfortable hold on power since [[History of the Gambia#Independent Gambia|the nation's independence]] 29 years earlier.<ref name=":1" /> This sentiment was particularly present among younger voters and youth groups, who felt under-represented by the patriarchal nature of President [[Dawda Jawara]]'s government.<ref name=":7">{{Cite journal|title=The Gambia's "Elected Autocrat Poverty, Peripherality, and Political Instability," 1994–2006: A Political Economy Assessment |journal=Armed Forces & Society|volume=34|issue=3|pages=450–473|language=en|doi=10.1177/0095327x07312081|year = 2008|last1 = Saine|first1 = Abdoulaye|s2cid=154658996}}</ref> They believed the only route to fair representation had to be outside the Jawara government and thus they were some of the coup's greatest proponents.<ref name=":7" />

At the same time, the uncovering and investigation of multiple ongoing scandals revealed the corruption of the Gambian Government.<ref name=":1" /> The Jawara government had been embroiled in a scandal involving three high-ranking government officials accused of embezzling millions of dollars from union funds in late 1993.<ref name=":1" /> Jawara and his government were reluctant to investigate this scandal and once the officials' guilt was proven they were even more reluctant to punish them, except for seizing and auctioning their houses.<ref name=":1" /> This made many citizens very sceptical of the government's complacency with corruption; eventually, domestic pressures resulted in the establishment in June 1994 of a commission to investigate. Jawara's attempt to regain the trust of the people came far too late; the commission had not reached a conclusion in time to save the regime.<ref name=":1" /> This incident, and many other scandals, led to the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]] (AFPRC) continually rebuking the Jawara regime for its corruption, despite Jawara's objection that "the extent of corruption under the PPP was nothing like as great as claimed by the AFPRC".<ref name=":1" /> This was confirmed later in November 1994 when an investigation uncovered considerable corruption and mismanagement of the Jawara government, including accusations of tax noncompliance, the distribution of favourable lands in [[Banjul]] to the administration, overpayment of travel expenses, theft of state resources and the nonpayment of government loans.<ref name=":1" />

=== Ineffectiveness of the Jawara government ===
[[File:Dawda Jawara (1979).jpg|thumb|Popular discontent with President [[Dawda Jawara]] (pictured 1979) contributed to the push for a coup.]]

Another factor leading to the discontent of the Gambian people was the ineffective nature of the Jawara government, which many accused of being ineffectual in its final months, arguing that governmental corruption prevented the country from progressing.<ref name=":1" /> Following the December 1992 establishment of the Assets Management and Recovery Commission (AMRC), which aimed to recover debts accrued by Gambian citizens and government officials, the ineffectiveness of government programs became increasingly clear.<ref name=":1" /> It was argued that the government had deliberately resisted AMRC efforts to collect debt and had purposefully limited its collecting powers; a result of the government's reluctance for its own debts to be collected.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9MknDAAAQBAJ&q=assets+management+and+recovery+commission+gambia&pg=PR9|title=Historical Dictionary of The Gambia|last=Perfect|first=David|date=27 May 2016|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|isbn=9781442265264|language=en}}</ref> This resulted in more accusations involving the ineffective, corrupt and tyrannical nature of the Jawara government, which even argued the PPP was responsible for the underdevelopment of the country.<ref name=":6">{{Cite journal|last=Perfect|first=David|date=1 March 2008|title=Politics and Society in The Gambia since Independence|journal=History Compass|language=en|volume=6|issue=2|pages=426–438|doi=10.1111/j.1478-0542.2008.00513.x|issn=1478-0542}}</ref>

=== Discontent in the military ===
Though there was discontent among the Gambian public, the coup was executed by junior officers of the [[Gambian_National_Army#Gambia_National_Army|Gambian National Army]] (GNA).<ref name=":9">{{Cite journal|title=The Gambia under Yahya Jammeh: An Assessment|journal = The Round Table|volume = 99|issue = 406|pages = 53–63|last=Perfect|first=David|doi=10.1080/00358530903513681|year = 2010|s2cid = 154015211}}</ref> It was preceded by growing dissatisfaction in the military.<ref name=":9" /> Some of the chief concerns of the GNA included the disparity of living conditions between Nigerian senior officers and Gambian junior officers, which they believed to be indicative of a broader, corrupted structuring of the government.<ref name=":7" /> The officers argued the increased incorporation of foreign senior officers into the GNA limited their own opportunities for advancement within the military.<ref name=":7" /> The junior officers became angry when they had not received pay for a number of months; they began to plan a mutiny that would later develop into a [[coup d'état]].<ref name=":2" />

==Coup==
On 21 July 1994, the [[USS La Moure County (LST-1194)|USS ''La Moure County'']] docked in Banjul for an international [[courtesy call]] and to conduct a joint training exercise with the GNA the next day. This was broadcast on Gambian radio stations, making public the knowledge that there would be a lack of military presence in The Gambia the next day. With this advantage, along with unrestricted and unmonitored access to military-grade vehicles and the armory, the coup was executed before the GNA had a chance to respond.<ref>{{Cite thesis|last=Loum|first=Momodou|date=April 2000|title=An Analysis of the Gambia Coup of 1994|url=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/s4/f2/dsk2/ftp03/MQ52357.pdf|pages=49}}</ref> At 7:30 a.m. the next day, the coup was set in motion at Yundum Barracks, 25 kilometers (15 mi) away from the capital. The coup began as a protest staged by disgruntled lieutenants and junior officers of the GNA, who planned to make demands regarding their lack of pay. The GNA, under the command of these junior officers, seized the airport, a radio station and a power station. Hours later, Jawara and his family fled to the ''La Moure County'' in an attempt to gain the protection and possible support of the [[United States Marine Corps]]. After being denied intervention by the Americans, the ship left Banjul that afternoon and docked in [[Dakar]], where Jawara disembarked under the protection of American warships.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.traveldocs.com/world-atlas/Gambia-atlas81|title=World Atlas – About Gambia|website=Travel Document Systems|access-date=12 October 2018}}</ref> With Jawara having fled the country, the coup organizers were free to secure their control over it and begin the establishment of their own government, which became known as the [[Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council]] (AFPRC) and governed The Gambia until 1996, when a civilian party replaced it.<ref name=":3" /> As the most senior officer of the coup organizers, Jammeh was elected to lead the AFPRC shortly after its establishment.<ref name=":5" />

Coup organizers included Sana Sabally, Edward Singhateh, Basiru Barrow, Alhaji Kanteh, and Alpha Kinteh.<ref name=":1" /> Kanteh and Kinteh withdrew from the plans because they believed the protest was poorly timed;<ref name=":1" /> their withdrawal led to the inclusion of Hydara and Jammeh into the coup plans.<ref name=":1" />

== Effects of the coup ==

=== Immediate effects ===
Immediately following the coup, its leaders banned all opposition parties, established the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council (AFPRC) as the ruling government of the Gambia, and suspended the constitution of 1970.<ref name=":1"/> Jammeh and other coup organizers took further steps to gain public and political support while suppressing all possibilities of opposition to the intervention. In the days following the coup, Jammeh made a number of speeches to both internal and external audiences in which he dedicated himself and the AFPRC to improving the transparency, integrity and accountability of the Gambian government. This move was primarily to gain support or neutrality, asserting that the military intervention was necessary to uphold national interests.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/report/countries-crossroads/2012/gambia|title=Gambia, The|date=3 December 2012|website=Freedom House|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181025110228/https://freedomhouse.org/report/countries-crossroads/2012/gambia|access-date=5 October 2018|archive-date=25 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last=Wiseman|first=John A.|date=1996|title=Military Rule in the Gambia: An Interim Assessment|journal=Third World Quarterly|volume=17|issue=5|pages=917–940|jstor=3993237|doi=10.1080/01436599615182}}</ref> In their speeches, the coup leaders also denounced the Jawara government, dedicated themselves to the protection of human rights, and to governing under the rule of law.<ref name=":7" /> 

The coup leaders took over national radio stations and imposed harsh restrictions on the press (which had had considerable liberties under the Jawara government) to prevent the broadcasting of opposition sentiments.<ref name=":42">{{Cite journal|last=Saine|first=Abdoulaye|date=Fall 2002|title=Military and Human Rights in the Gambia: 1994–1999|journal=Journal of Third World Studies|id={{ProQuest|233190474}}}}</ref> These tighter restrictions led to the imprisonment and exile of several Gambian journalists who expressed anti-coup sentiments.<ref name=":42" /> The restrictions also resulted in the deportation of other West African journalists, most often on charges dating to colonial rule and with politically charged biases.<ref name=":8" /> Human rights violations were not limited to journalists and vocal protesters of the coup: Jammeh's most controversial policies included the re-establishment of the death penalty, which was mostly reserved for political opponents and attempted coup leaders.<ref name=":42" /> Through these acts, Jammeh and the other coup leaders were able to legitimize the coup, the new ruling government and the PPP, both internally and internationally.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5FG0Y5DFptUC&q=gambia+coup+1994+immediate+effects&pg=PA181|title=Political Liberalization and Democratization in Africa: Lessons from Country Experiences|last1=Ihonvbere|first1=Julius Omozuanvbo|last2=Mbaku|first2=John Mukum|date=2003|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=9780275975067|language=en}}</ref> Leading up to the September 1996 election, Jammeh changed the AFPRC from a ruling military body into the [[Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction]] (APRC), and began to campaign as the nominee for the new party.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book|title=Military Coups in West Africa Since the Sixties|last=Mwakikagile|first=Godfrey|publisher=Nova Science Publishers|year=2001|isbn=978-1-56072-945-7|pages=25–37}}</ref> Jammeh won this election, partially due to the lack of major opposition parties, thus legitimizing his government.<ref name=":5" />

Jammeh committed himself and the government to providing more public goods to Gambians. In the first few years after the coup, his administration constructed two new high schools, five new middle schools, a large rural hospital, several rural clinics and the country's first television station.<ref name=":42" />

=== Responses to the coup ===
The coup itself had very little political, military or public resistance, a relief to many Gambians after the bloody attempted coup of 1981.<ref name=":1" /> The only resistance to the coup came from Tactical Support Group (TSG) officers – who quickly realized that they were outnumbered and outgunned and surrendered their weapons – and from Jawara himself.<ref name=":1" /> Jawara begged the coup leaders to return to their barracks but they refused.<ref name=":1" /> Despite the paucity of resistance, one of the first acts of the coup leaders was to ban all opposition parties.<ref name=":1" /> Many leaders of these parties eventually became nominees for the [[United Democratic Party (The Gambia)|United Democratic Party]] (UDP), established in September 1996.<ref name=":1" /> In the public sphere, there was a generally positive attitude toward the military intervention, particularly among urban young people, who felt most under-represented in the Jawara era.<ref name=":1" /> A study conducted by Wiseman later found that most public supporters of the coup actually opposed it privately but were too afraid to openly declare their opposition.<ref name=":1" /> 

The internal neutrality towards the coup was also reflected in international reactions. After Jawara's flight to the US warship ''La Moure County'' in an attempt to secure US military intervention and protection,<ref name=":1" /> the [[List of ambassadors of the United States to the Gambia|US ambassador]], following talks with his government, refused to send marines to suppress the coup, disappointing Jawara and other officials of his government.<ref name=":1" /> Jawara then was transported to [[Dakar]], the capital of [[Senegal]], by the US warship. He once again asked for military intervention from Senegal.<ref name=":1" /> Senegal offered Jawara and many of his officials political asylum but, viewing the coup as a low-ranking affair, refused to offer military assistance.<ref name=":6"/> Senegal went on to become the first country to recognize the newly established government in The Gambia as legitimate.<ref name=":1" /> The [[United Kingdom]], despite its adamant support of the Jawara regime, also failed to take action to suppress the coup.<ref name=":5" /> The British had contested that the "rebellion" in Gambia would be over in a matter of days and there was little need for British intervention.<ref name=":5" /> Despite this initial neutrality towards the subject, sanctions and restrictions were placed on the new regime from November 1994.<ref name=":7" /> In response to the coup and the suspension of democracy in the Gambia, major donors such as the [[European Union|EU]], [[United States|US]] and [[Japan]] froze all humanitarian aid to The Gambia and issued travel warnings for the region.<ref name=":7" /> In response, the AFRPC established the National Consultative Committee (NCC) to survey public opinion about the coup and the new ruling government.<ref name=":8">{{Cite journal|last=Wiseman|first=John A.|date=1 April 1998|title=The Gambia: From Coup to Elections|journal=Journal of Democracy|language=en|volume=9|issue=2|pages=64–75|doi=10.1353/jod.1998.0035|s2cid=154111205|issn=1086-3214}}</ref> The regime accepted the suggestions of the NCC and shortened the rule of the AFPRC from four years to two before transitioning to "democratic rule."<ref name=":8" />

== Wider context ==
The end of the [[Cold War]] and the [[collapse of the Soviet Union]] encouraged liberalization and democratization movements in much of Africa; for this reason, the period from 1974 to the mid-1990s is considered the [[third wave of democratization]] in Africa, in which many countries changed from militaristic and autocratic states into democracies.<ref name=":2" /> Many Western scholars hoped the number of military governments in Africa would continue to decrease, both numerically and in power, in the following decades.<ref name=":2" /> Because The Gambia had become a more autocratic state in that period, many scholars consider it paradoxical.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Wiseman|first1=John A.|last2=Vidler|first2=Elizabeth|date=January 1995|title=The July 1994 coup d'etat in the Gambia: The end of an era?|journal=The Round Table|language=en|volume=84|issue=333|pages=53–65|doi=10.1080/00358539508454237|issn=0035-8533}}</ref> The 1994 coup in The Gambia marked the end of the longest-lasting democracy in West Africa and the deposition of one of Africa's longest-serving heads of state.<ref name=":4" />

==See also==
*[[Arch 22]]
*[[1981 Gambian coup d'état attempt]]
*[[2014 Gambian coup d'état attempt]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite journal|last=Saine|first=Abdoulaye S.M.|title=The Coup d'Etat in The Gambia, 1994: The End of the First Republic|journal=Armed Forces & Society|date=1996|volume=23|number=1|pages=97–111|doi=10.1177/0095327x9602300105|s2cid=144632866}}

{{Years in the Gambia}}
{{African coups d'état}}
{{coup d'état}}
{{Military History of The Gambia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1994 Gambian coup d'etat}}
[[Category:1994 in the Gambia]]
[[Category:1990s coups d'état and coup attempts]]
[[Category:Coups d'état and coup attempts in the Gambia]]
[[Category:Conflicts in 1994]]
[[Category:Politics of the Gambia]]
[[Category:July 1994 events in Africa]]
[[Category:Military history of the Gambia]]