Why did The Gambia gain independence later than many other British West African colonies?

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Western Africa The countries of western Africa.

The primary factor contributing to the delay of The Gambia’s independence compared to other British West African colonies was its small size.12

Because of this limited scale, the British government operated under the belief that the territory would eventually merge with Senegal, the neighboring country that surrounded it and achieved independence in 1960. While there was internal support for independence within The Gambia, this geopolitical expectation influenced the timing of the transition.31

Following a series of revised constitutions in 1954, 1960, and 1962, Britain finally granted The Gambia independence within the Commonwealth in February 1965.3