Assan Musa Camara (also known as Andrew David Camara; 21 April 1923 – 15 September 2013) was a Gambian politician. He served as

Vice President A vice president or vice-president, also director in British English, is an officer in government or business who is below the president (chief executive officer) in rank. It can also refer to executive vice presidents, signifying that the vi ...

of the Gambia under president

Dawda Jawara Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara (16 May 1924 – 27 August 2019) was a Gambian politician who served as prime minister from 1962 to 1970, and then as the first President of The Gambia from 1970 to 1994, when he was overthrown by Yahya Jammeh. Jawa ...

, almost continuously from 1972 to 1977,. And then again from 1981 to 1982, and as a member of parliament (MP) for Kantora from 1960 to 1987. He founded the Gambian People's Party and contested the Gambia's presidential elections of 1987 and 1992 against then incumbent president

Early life and education

The son of a

Fula Fula may refer to: *Fula people (or Fulani, Fulɓe) *Fula language (or Pulaar, Fulfulde, Fulani) **The Fula variety known as the Pulaar language **The Fula variety known as the Pular language **The Fula variety known as Maasina Fulfulde *Fula alpha ...

farmer and cattle breeder, Camara was born in Mansajang Kunda near

Basse Santa Su Basse Santa Su, usually known as Basse, is a town in the Gambia, lying on the south bank of the River Gambia. The easternmost major town in the nation, it is known for its important market. Basse is the capital of the Upper River Division, which i ...

in April 1923. He was an Anglican convert, taking the name Andrew David. He was first educated in Mansajang Anglican Mission School, and then at St. Mary's Primary School in Bathurst (now

Banjul Banjul (, (US) and ), officially the City of Banjul, is the capital city of The Gambia. It is the centre of the eponymous administrative division which is home to an estimated 400,000 residents, making it The Gambia's largest and most densely ...

) from 1937 to 1940. He was asked to join the team set up by Bishop John Daly to find a suitable location in

British Gambia The Gambia Colony and Protectorate was the British colonial administration of The Gambia from 1821 to 1965, part of the British Empire in the New Imperialism era. The colony was the immediate area surrounding Bathurst (now Banjul), and the ...

for an Anglican mission station, which led to the establishment of the Anglican Mission School at Kristi Kunda in the Upper River Region. He also studied at Kristikunda Mission School where he obtained his Cambridge School Certificate and later at Georgetown College in M.I.D where he graduated with a qualified teacher's certificate.

Career

Teaching career

He began working as a teacher in Kristi Kunda in January 1949, and became its head teacher afterwards. He resigned from his post in 1959 to enter politics. He stood successfully as an independent candidate with the support from the Gambian Democratic Party in Kantoura constituency in the 1960 House of Representatives election.

Political career

Camara was later appointed by Governor Sir Edward Henry Windley to the executive council as a minister without portfolio and held that position until 1961, when he was appointed minister of education after the appointment of

Pierre Sarr N'Jie Pierre Sarr N'Jie (17 July 1909 – 11 December 1993) was a Gambian lawyer and politician who served as the Chief Minister of the Gambia from 1961 to 1962. He was the country's first head of government following the declaration of self-rule in ...

as chief minister. He joined the United Party (UP) and successfully defended his seat for Kantoura constituency as a UP candidate in the 1962 election. In 1963, he switched to the People's Progressive Party (PPP). He was appointed minister of education, labour and social welfare in November 1963. He was later appointed the minister of external affairs in January 1968 until 1974, the period which saw Gambia develop close ties with Guinea and Cape Verde during his time in office. In September 1972, he was appointed vice president following the dismissal and resignation of

Sheriff Mustapha Dibba Sheriff Mustapha Dibba (10 January 1937 – 2 June 2008) was a Gambian politician who was the 1st Vice-President of the Gambia (1970–1972) and also served as the country's National Assembly speaker from 2002 to 2006. He was also leader of ...

. While he was still vice president, he became minister of local government and lands. A few months later, he converted to Islam and adopted the name Assam Musa. After the 1977 election, he was appointed minister of finance and trade and was replaced by Alieu Badara Njie as vice president. He also served briefly as minister of education. In August 1978, he once again becomes vice president when Njie resigned.

1981 Coup attempt and aftermath

During the failed 1981 coup, as a senior minister in Banjul, he played an important role in resisting the coup attempt and actions helped persuade the Senegalese government to intervene to restore President Dawara. He came under the president's suspicion of backing independent candidates in the

Upper River Division Upper River was one of the five Subdivisions of the Gambia, Divisions of the Gambia. Its capital was Basse Santa Su. It was subsequently reorganised as the Basse (Gambia), Basse Local Government Area, without any change in the area covered. Per ...

in the 1982 general election. After the election, he lost the vice presidency and dropped out from the cabinet. He resigned from the PPP on 4 February 1986. Later that same month, he does the Gambia People's Party (GPP), along with two former ministers. After the 1994 coup, the GPP was banned and he himself was barred from standing in the parliament. In December 2002, the United Democratic Party (UDP) was reported to appoint Camara as its national chairman but Camara himself turned it down. In January 2005, he supported the

National Alliance for Democracy and Development The National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) is a three-party coalition (previously five parties) of Gambian opposition political parties. It was officially launched January 2005 with the signing of a memorandum of understanding (M ...

(NADD), which he was chosen as its chairman. Tensions within the NADD led to his resignation on 7 March 2006, and he retired from politics soon after. He died in

on 15 September 2013, aged 90, after a long illness and was buried in Old Jeshwang Cemetery, Kanifang.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Camara, Assan Musa 1923 births 2013 deaths Vice-presidents of the Gambia Finance ministers of the Gambia Education ministers of the Gambia People from Upper River Division Members of the House of Representatives of the Gambia