Parliament vote crucial to transition for new leader
BANJUL, Gambia — Many Gambians hope to secure a transition from decades of dictatorship to democracy on Thursday as they vote in parliamentary elections, the first since longtime leader Yahya Jammeh flew into exile in January. But some worry the coalition that put new President Adama Barrow in place is already seeing cracks.
The National Assembly vote ushers in a new era for the tiny West African country, whose leaders say they want to steer the nation toward reconciliation.
More than 1.8 million Gambians were ruled for 22 years by Jammeh, whose government was accused of human rights abuses.
He lost the December election to Barrow, who was backed by a coalition of eight opposition parties.
For weeks, Jammeh refused to leave power in a political standoff that brought regional countries to the brink of a military intervention.
Jammeh’s eventual flight into exile was a dramatic moment for many in Africa, where a number of leaders have clung to power for decades.
The new government under Barrow has promised to right the wrongs of the past, setting up a truth and reconciliation process.
Many Gambians fear that if the new parliament doesn’t strike the right balance, their vote in December could be compromised.
The eight opposition parties that backed Barrow as a coalition are now running as separate parties against the representatives of Jammeh’s former ruling party and the one opposition party that didn’t join the coalition, the Gambia Democratic Congress. They also face 42 independent candidates.
Some worry that divisions among the parties that united to oust Jammeh are starting to show.
“I don’t still understand why party leaders let this happen,” said one Gambian, Ebrima Jobe, shaking his head. He said he was disheartened that after all the efforts to form a coalition to end Jammeh’s rule, the parties are acting in a way that could threaten the future that Gambians wanted.
If coalition parties do not win a majority, it could affect Barrow’s ability to govern and carry out the transition policies he has promised.