2016 was not a great year for politics. And for The Gambia, the smallest country on the mainland who has been run by an authoritarian leader for 22 years, no one expected a surprise in the election. It’s been a year where many long-standing presidents throughout the continent managed to stay in power without too much effort.
Yahya Jammeh first took power at the age of 29 in 1994 after a coup and was then re-elected for four consecutive mandates. Jammeh’s repressive regime led many to flee the country in fear of violence or imprisonment. In 2015, Jammeh declared The Gambia as an Islamic Republic, promising his anti-gay laws would be tougher than those in Iran.
On election day, the internet, mobile networks and electricity were shut down.
#Gambia standing tall today despite threats, arrests, an internet and phone blackout, electricity cut and borders closed. #GambiaDecides ✊ pic.twitter.com/4FD9dvEihl
— Jeffrey Smith (@Smith_JeffreyT) December 1, 2016
The day following the election, rumour had it that President Jammeh could be on his way out. On social media, the #GambiaDecides began to trend although people were being careful, waiting for official sources to confirm it.
In the early afternoon following election day, the electoral commission’s president declared that President Jammeh, who was running for his fifth mandate and had declared that he would stay in power for a ‘billion years’ had indeed lost to Adama Burrow, the man chosen by seven parties to be the opposition’s champion.
People on Twitter had a hard time believing the election results.
https://twitter.com/pyepar/status/804664282751320066
Trembling with excitement for Africa. Gambia strongman Jammeh about to concede defeat? Can anyone first confirm if he's sober?
— Charles Onyango-Obbo (@cobbo3) December 2, 2016
For many, the election result was like a new independence day.
Oh Gambia Has Gained Independence Again #Jexit
— Yassin H. Njie (@h_njieyassin) December 2, 2016
For the Gambian diaspora, this is a long-waited opportunity to come home.
Do y'all know the amount of people that will go back to gambia if Barrow wins. It's going to be so emotional. #GambiaDecides
— 🎀BooBoo🎀 (@Famaya____) December 1, 2016
Some observers noted that Gambia just gave a ‘How To’ lesson in getting rid of authoritarian presidents to the rest of the continent… not bad for such a small country.
The defeat of Yahyah Jammeh ends the infallibility of "life presidents" in Africa. That era of nonsense is OVER. #GambiaDecides
— D I K E M B E (@Disembe) December 2, 2016
https://twitter.com/ZuwaMatondo/status/804722555663880192
As it turns out, 2016isn’t all that bad.
https://twitter.com/mr_itchesb/status/804633575664578560