Lessons from Gambia

In a hotly contested election on December 2, 2016, long-serving Gambian President Yahya Jammeh lost to a newcomer, Adama Barrow. What came as a sweet surprise to Gambians and the entire African continent was how game Jammeh was; conceding defeat. That was least expected after he swore he would rule for the next one billion years.

Gambia’s election outcome is encouraging, proof that democracy is spreading across the continent. Rather than violence, disaffected people are choosing the ballot to express their disgust at their leader’s ineptitude and unwillingness to change their fortunes.