There is hope for a peaceful change of power in the tiny West –African country, Gambia, after the country’s army chief, General Badije pledged allegiance to President-elect Adama Barrow.
“General Badije called to congratulate Mr.Barrow on his victory and to offer his allegiance,” spokeswoman Amie Bojang stated.
Adama Barrow, who is a self-made estate developer and who once worked as a security guard at a retailer Argos in London, beat incumbent Yahya Jammeh on 1st December. Yahya Jammeh, an autocrat who had banned opposition protests and had pledged to rule Gambia for a “billion years”, shocked Gambians by admitting defeat. Jammeh took power in 1994 following a coup that unseated Dawda Jawara who was the country’s leader since independence from Great Britain in 1965.
Gambians are now hopeful of Adama Barrow, to bring in a new era of stability after years of living under a president who is associated with torturing opponents and obscuring human rights. Moreover, Adama barrow has promised to end the abuse of human rights and to step down after three years as a boost to democracy.
