After 22 years in power, Gambian president loses and ‘concedes’ election

President Yahya Jammeh of Gambia has lost the 2016 presidential election to Adama Barrow, candidate of the opposition party.

After announcing the result, Alieu Momar Njie, chairman of the Gambian electoral commission, said Jammeh had accepted the unfavourable outcome of the election.

Njie said it was unprecedented for a head of state in the country to accept defeat before the final results.

“It’s really unique that someone who has been ruling this country for so long has accepted defeat,” Alieu Momar Njie told reporters.

Jammeh has been in power for 22 years. The West African country has not had a smooth transfer of power since independence in 1965.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan made history when he conceded election to incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari in 2015.

In March, Lionel Zinsou, prime minister of Benin Republic, conceded defeat to Patrice Talon, winner of the country’s presidential election.