Gambian President Yahya Jammeh could
see an end to his 22-year rule as
Gambians cast their votes during
Thursday’s national election.


Adama Barrow, Mr. Jammeh’s main challenger,
has surged in popularity after campaigning
extensively for the past two weeks – the only
time period in which candidates are legally
permitted to campaign. Mr. Barrow, a
businessman, has earned the support of seven
political parties and an independent candidate,
who have formed a united coalition that seeks to
unseat Mr. Jammeh.


Mama Kandeh, a former member of parliament,
is contending on the Gambian Democratic
Congress ticket.


The winner of the three-way race will serve a
five-year term.


“Power belongs to the people. You cannot stop
us and you cannot stop them,” Mr. Barrow dais
to an AFP reporter. “If [Jammeh] loses, let him
concede defeat. And we know he is going to
lose.”


Mr. Jammeh, however, is confident he will
emerge victorious.


“By the grace of the almighty Allah, there will be
the biggest landslide in the history of my
elections,” the Gambian president said.



In the weeks leading up to the election, Mr.
Jammeh has ramped up efforts to ensure he
maintains control of the small West Africa
country, living up to his reputation as an
oppressor of political freedom.



At 8:15 pm local time on the eve of the election,
AFP reported that Internet connection was cut.



Starting on Thursday afternoon, Gambians could
not send text messages or place international
calls, and apps such as WhatsApp and Skype
were not working.



“Over the past 22 years, President Jammeh and
the Gambian security forces have used enforced
disappearances, torture, intimidation, and
arbitrary arrests to suppress dissent and
preserve Jammeh’s grip on power,” Human
Rights Watch said in a report on the elections.


“Ahead of this year’s election, the government
has repeated these tactics, with a crackdown on
opposition parties, particularly the United
Democratic Party (UDP), that has all but
extinguished hopes for a free and fair election.”


AFP confirmed that there would be no
international observers present to monitor the
election, raising concerns that the election will
not be fair and free.


Mr. Jammeh rose to power in a 1994 coup and
has proceeded to win every election since then.


While he boasts that the country has achieved
unprecedented development under his reign, 60
percent of the population lives in poverty, and
roughly a third live on less than $1.25 USD a
day.



http://saharareporters.com/2016/12/01/yahya-jammeh-seeks-extend-22-year-rule-gambian-elections

Africa,, why are you like this?