[ad_1]
Saturday voting will be closely monitored as a test of the country’s democratic transformation, which Jammeh ruled for 22 years.
The Gambian people are due to hold elections on Saturday, in the first presidential election in a small West African country since dictator Yahya Jammeh fled the country.
Voting will be closely monitored as a test of democracy in the country, during which Jammeh ruled for 22 years after a bloodless coup in 1994.
The former governor was deported to Equatorial Guinea in January 2017 and Adam Barrow, an unidentified relative, defeated him in a ballot box.
President Barrow, 56, is now running for office, and is facing five other candidates.
Former political analyst Ousainou Darboe is considered a opposition leader.
The 73-year-old is a lawyer representing Jammeh’s opponents, and has contested for the presidency against the dictator several times.
He also served as foreign minister and vice-president under Barrow, before stepping down in 2019.
Many voters in a poor country of more than two million people are hoping for a better life.
Poverty abound
The Gambia, located about 300 miles[480 km]in circumference, surrounded by Senegal, is one of the poorest countries in the world.
About half the population lives on less than $ 1.90 a day, according to the World Bank.
The tourism industry in the former British colonies was severely damaged by the COVID-19 epidemic.
Barrow is running on an ongoing ticket, referring to construction projects completed under his watch, as well as increasing human rights.
Votes are due to open at 0800 GMT in Gambia, and close at 1700 GMT.
Each candidate has his or her own ballot box in the Gambia elections, and voters cast their ballots by throwing stones in one of the ballot boxes.
An unusual voting method is to respond to a small number of literate people in the country.
The preliminary results of the one-year presidential election could be announced from Sunday.
The political shadow of Jammeh
Questions about Jammeh’s continued political presence, as well as his return from exile, have been major issues in this election.
The 56-year-old dictator also wanted to get votes, inviting her to speak at party rallies during the campaign.
Jammeh has political support in Gambia.
Another political party, however, wants Jammeh to be held accountable for his actions during his tenure.
Barrow set up an oversight committee to investigate allegations of torture on his return to office.
Before the trial ended in May, he heard testimony from hundreds of witnesses about government-sanctioned gangs, witch hunts, and forced forced cures for AIDS patients, among other things.
The commission urged the government to be tried in November, in a final report to Barrow not giving to the public.
The names of the accused officials were also not named.
Terrorism cases are politically motivated based on Jammeh’s policies.
There are also growing concerns about Barrow’s interest in prosecuting, despite earlier statements that were strong for Jammeh.
In September, for example, the Barrow party of the NPP announced an alliance with the Jammeh APRC – in a contest that was seen as an election process.
Jammeh said the decision was taken unknowingly, and his supporters formed a rival party. But activists fear that the alliance will reduce the likelihood that this will happen.
[ad_2]
Source link
