The Gambia government has announced that the State Funeral for former president Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara will take place on Thursday at the National Assembly.

The former president passed away on Tuesday afternoon at his residence in Fajara, in the Greater Banjul Area. He was 95.

“The public is hereby informed that the State Funeral for the Former President, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara will take place on Thursday, 29th August at 4:00 pm, at the National Assembly,” the presidency said in a press release.

Earlier on Tuesday, President Adama Barrow led a cabinet delegation to the residence of the former president, Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara, at Fajara.

The president paid his condolences to the Jawara family.

Meanwhile, the president has ordered for the lowering at half-mast of all flags across the nation in honour of the the former president.

Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara was the first president of the Gambia and the father of the nation. His death has been described as “a great loss for the country”.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba