Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow vowed Thursday to set up a South Africa-style truth commission as he claimed the army’s support after his surprise election in the west African nation. Barrow, whose shock victory this month ended the 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh, said the country’s …
Read More »Why did Gambia’s Yahya Jammeh concede defeat?
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian leader Yahya Jammeh has ruthlessly pursued opponents real and imaginary, and implied more than once that he would kill anyone who defied him. His magnanimous concession speech and promise of a swift handover to president-elect Adama Barrow after 22 years in power has therefore …
Read More »Gambia election recount awards Barrow slimmer win
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia’s shock election result awarded president-elect Adama Barrow extra votes by mistake but a recount showed he still won outright, the country’s electoral commission told AFP Tuesday. Alieu Momar Njie, chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission, said correct counting on the spot in one …
Read More »President-elect Barrow to reverse ICC pull-out, opposition figures out on bail
Senior Gambia opposition figures freed on bail Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian opposition leader Ousainou Darboe, who had been jailed for taking part in a protest, was freed on bail with 18 others Monday, days after a shock opposition election win. The head of his defence team said …
Read More »Why Jammeh lost: Gambian leader’s downfall in five points
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | President Yahya Jammeh scored only half his previous box office tally in last week’s election, handing victory to opposition coalition leader Adama Barrow. But why did Gambians turn against Jammeh after 22 years in power? Economic crisis A triple blow has been dealt to the …
Read More »Gambia’s new leaders push for political prisoners’ release
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | The Gambia’s President-elect Adama Barrow held talks with his team Saturday to plot his transition to power, with the release of political prisoners emerging as a top priority for the new administration. Barrow’s shock election victory ended the iron-fisted 22-year rule of Yahya Jammeh on …
Read More »Yahya Jammeh: devout and erratic leader of The Gambia
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who was defeated in this week’s poll, seized power in a 1994 coup and clung to office for 22 years with a blend of severity, mysticism and iron-clad self-belief. “No matter what people say about me, I am not moved… I …
Read More »Who is Adama Barrow, presidential winner in Gambia?
Adama Barrow: Gambia’s estate agent of change Banjul, Gambia | AFP | He is quiet, understated and until recently unknown, but now presidential election winner Adama Barrow has become the flagbearer for a new era of change in The Gambia. A political novice whose lack of baggage has endeared him …
Read More »Opposition wins Gambia presidential poll with 45.54%
Gambian president Jammeh ‘concedes’ defeat in election Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has conceded defeat to the opposition, the chairman of the electoral commission said Friday, bringing a dramatic end to his 22 years in power. “It’s really unique that someone who has been ruling this …
Read More »Gambia’s internet cut as ‘billion-year’ leader faces challenge
Banjul, Gambia | AFP | Gambian President Yahya Jammeh faced the strongest electoral challenge of his 22-year rule Thursday as voters went to the polls, braving an internet and phone blackout the government defended as a security measure. After an unprecedented two-week opposition campaign that has energised his rivals, Jammeh …
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