General

The Gambia to hold first election after Yahya Jammeh

April 5, 2017

On Thursday, 238 candidates from nine political parties will vie for the 53 parliament seats up for election.

Gambians will vote with marbles dropped into coloured metal barrels representing the different candidates [Seyllou/AFP]
The Gambia will hold its first election on Thursday since the downfall of longtime leader Yahya Jammeh.

Expectations are high that new lawmakers will overhaul the national assembly once derided as a mere rubberstamp by many in the country.

Gambians have long complained that under Jammeh, who ruled for 22 years, laws were often made by executive decree and buttressed by legislation much later on, if at all.

Campaigning ended on Tuesday for the 238 registered candidates representing nine different political parties who are vying for the 53 seats up for election.