New Gambian President to Restore Divisions

Gambia’s new president, Adama Barrow, returned to Banjul after long-time President, Yahya Jammeh, left for exile in Equatorial Guinea on Saturday. Although Barrow won the presidential election, he fled to Senegal due to political discrepancies following Jammeh’s refusal to step down from his twenty-year-long presidency. Barrow was sworn into the presidency at Gambia’s embassy in Dakar, Senegal’s capital.

The government urged Barrow for a quick return to Gambia in order to maintain their tourist-reliant economy. A senior government official claims that the Gambian people are ecstatic that Barrow would be putting the “pillars of reform and human rights” into place. Mohamed ibn Chambas, the United Nations envoy for West Africa, stresses that the UN is working to stabilize the Gambia. He will accompany Barrow upon his return to his the Gambia.

Barrow’s first job upon his return will be to deal with an internal crisis, after finding out that his chosen Vice President, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, is constitutionally too old to be in office. Due to remaining elements of pro-Jammeh security forces, there are 4,000 West African troops remaining in the Gambia to ensure safety among the citizens.

Jolas, a pro-Jammeh faction of people believe that Barrow is there solely for the Mandinkas and does not support them. Residents of the Gambia’s central region claim that, while celebrating Jammeh’s exile, a group of children and a family were attacked by a jola gang. There were claims of one of the assailants was running after the children, holding a bicycle chain. Among the attackers were supporters of The Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), who injured the children and families with machetes, cutlasses, and stones. Seven people were injured during this attack, including a child.

Residents claim that Barrow’s arrival will be the beginning of a healing process to mend the divisions created by Jammeh’s regime. One Gambian resident said that it is not only the government that has to change but “all the Gambian people have to change, working hand-in-hand to change our attitude.”

Despite Jammed’s refusal to step down, Barrow has assured Jammeh that he will receive the legal rights of a Gambian ex-president, including immunity from prosecution.