Gambia’s President, Adama Barrow, has been re-elected, in the first vote for decades held without long-term leader Yahya Jammeh.
President Barrow received 53 % of the votes, with closest challenger, Ousainou Darboe, garnering 28%. The vote is being seen as a test for democracy in the Gambia.
In the last election, Mr. Barrow defeated Yahya Jammeh, who now lives in exile after refusing to accept the result.
Addressing supporters in a victory speech in the capital Banjul, Mr. Barrow called for unity among the country’s political factions to work towards the development of the Gambia. Mr. Darboe and two other candidates – Mama Kandeh and Essa Mbye Faal – issued a joint statement before the final result was declared, disputing the figures.
They said they were concerned at delays and that their Party Agents had raised a number of issues.
Electoral Commission Chairman Alieu Momarr Njai, declared Barrow the winner, announcing the final results to journalists hours after rival candidates had challenged partial results that gave him a commanding lead.
