Presidential Elections

The past week saw The Gambia engulfed in electoral passion, with people out on the streets and posters everywhere. Everyone was caught up in the fever to decide who would be the president of the nation, with three candidates competing.

One more person who has been to the polls -
Gambian sources say turnout was 83% 

Thursday was election day itself, with crowds of people queuing at polling stations throughout the city. People cast their vote using an innovating "marble-dropping" technique, and would then leave the polling station with their index finger indelibly marked. Being here and seeing the electoral process was very interesting and exciting - little Gambia even managed to become top story on the BBC's Focus on Africa!


Everyone waited until Friday morning for the results to be read out. Even for a politics graduate like myself, the reading of results was a laborious and at times boring process - the local TV station GRTS needs to take some advice from Jeremy Paxman, et al! Anyway, President Jammeh was successfully returned for his 4th term in office, with 72% of the vote. To read the BBC's report on the election, please click here.  

Now that President Jammeh has been re-elected life is slowly returning to normal. So am I, after a period of being quite sick because of heat-stroke. It's the first time I've been properly ill out here, so I figure I've been quite lucky so far!

On a slightly more "fun" note, have a look at the video below. It's a popular song that can be heard in most parts of the Gambia, but is bizarrely about a presidential candidate in Guinea, Cellou Diallo. Many of the Gambians I've met seem to love this song, even though most of them have no idea who Cellou Diallo is. Have a listen to get a taste of what kind of music is popular here:

 

Lots of love, all the very best,

Robert