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The Gambia, a small country with an area of less than 110,000 square kilometers, is tightly surrounded by Senegal, and only the Gambia River seems to quietly nourish the land.
Agriculture, the country's economic lifeline, relies heavily on the cultivation of peanuts.
Even so, however, the Gambia's economic outlook remains bleak and uncertain.
With a per capita GDP of only $800, the gap between the rich and the poor is like a chasm.
Although the population is sparse at only 2.7 million, its political situation is like a political drama with ups and downs.
Once upon a time, Jawara, a one-of-a-kind veterinarian, returned home full of knowledge and skills after studying in Europe.
Trusted by the political elite and village elders, he not only won the hearts and minds of the people with his medical skills, but also skillfully used it as a springboard to enter the political arena.
When The Gambia declared independence in 1965, he was propelled to the throne of leader by the people and was hailed as the "Father of the Nation".
At a time when management talent was scarce, Jawara served as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Minister of Defence and Minister of Information, and his diligence brought a glimmer of hope to the development of The Gambia.
However, he was too conceited to deal effectively with the complex challenges of the multi-party system, thus sowing the consequences of the political crisis.
In 1981, Jawara went to England to attend the wedding of Charles and Diana, but unexpectedly, this trip caused a political storm in China.
During his absence, the leader of the Gambian Socialist Labour Party took advantage of the incident and quickly seized the television station in the capital, Banjul.
The lack of a well-trained army and the strained police force have left the country with little defence.
At this critical juncture, Jawara hurried back from Senegal and pleaded with his neighbors to help him.
Timely reinforcements from the Senegalese army finally brought the coup down in just seven days.
In the aftermath, Jawara decisively arrested the central figures of the coup and decided to form a regular army.
Although this move is out of self-preservation, it also lays a hidden danger for the military to interfere in politics in the future.
Against this backdrop, Gambia's politics and society remain on thin ice, and Jawara's political career has entered a new phase of even more turbulence.
Although his policy seemed risky, the formation of an army was somewhat inadequate in the face of financial constraints.
Even if the size of the army is only a few hundred people, it has also boosted the country's confidence to some extent.
However, by the end of the 80s, in the face of declining international support, Jawara still decided to massively expand the army, and even openly provoked the great powers in the international arena, claiming that he could capture the Soviet Union in just three days.
This arrogant diplomatic posture undoubtedly exposes the unreality and arrogance of its foreign policy.
With the frenzied expansion of the army, the financial pressure on the country snowballed, and eventually the country was overwhelmed and unable to afford to pay for it.
This internal tension finally sparked another coup d'état in 1994, led by military officer Jammeh, which peacefully ended Jawara's decades-long rule.
Under the patronage of the American fleet, Jawara went into exile and did not quietly return home until 2002.
His successor, Jammeh, reduced politics to a tool for personal gain, and he manipulated the central bank and private accounts to control state funds, forming a dark empire of commercial monopolies.
His dictatorship and corrupt practices have left a deep mark at home and abroad.
Although he tried to enhance his personal charm by portraying the image of the "miracle doctor", he could not calm the anger in the hearts of the people.
What he did ultimately led to his downfall.
In 2017, Adama Barrow won the election by a landslide, forcing Jammeh to face reality and ending his decades-long brutal rule.
When Adama Barrow came to power, he worked to stabilize the country's economy and solemnly promised to hold his predecessor accountable for his crimes.
This series of initiatives has opened people's eyes to the possibility of a more just and brighter country.
From Jawara's high-stakes policies to Jammeh's corruption of power to Adama Barrow's vision of reform, Gambia's political journey has been full of twists and turns.
These political fluctuations have presented an absurd and ambitious picture on the international stage.
The Gambia's experience is a stark reminder that even small countries have their own unique international status, but blind self-confidence and unrealistic foreign policies often become empty talk.
This absurd political arena has undoubtedly added an absurd color to world politics, and Chinese observers have laughed at this political farce.
This blind quest for power and escape from reality is not only ironic, but also adds a touch of irony to the Gambia's political history.