Dawda Jawara: First Gambia president dies aged 95

The Gambian president, Adama Barrow has paid tributes to the country’s first president Dawda Jawara, who has died at the age of 95.

The vet-turned-politician who first served as a prime minister led his country to independence from the United kingdom in 1965.

In a tweet, Barrow described Jawara’s passing as a great loss to the country in particular and humanity in general.

The former president was known as Kairaba Jawara meaning peaceful Jawara.

The government says his state funeral will take place on Thursday afternoon at the parliament.