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On 22 July 1994, the government of Sir Dawda Jawara was overthrown in a military coup in Gambia. While Jawara's thirty year rule was characterised by mostly good governance, he failed to address the endemic corruption in the Gabonese army and security sectors. Surrounded by Senegal, Jawara enjoyed their support for most of his rule to the extent that they suppressed an attempted military coup in 1981. However during the 1994 coup, Senegal refused to intervene, as Gambia refused to accept a monetary and economic union with Senegal in 1989.
A military council headed by four lieutenants, Jammeh, Hydara, Sabaly and Signateh replaced Jawara's rule.. Following the coup, Jawara fled to a visiting American warship, the USS La Moure County that was paying a courtesy call to the country when the coup took place. Jammeh, one of the leaders of the coup who deposed Jawara, eventually became President of Gambia. In contrast to Jawara's rule, Jammeh's has been marked by great instability and hostility to the West.