Flags flying high in Bakau as the Gambia celebrates 52 years of independence and the inauguration of President Adama Barrow at the Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Gambian men and women, young and old from different political affiliation came out in their thousands to celebrate the country’s independence from the yolk of British colonialism.
The country has gained its independent on the 18th February 1965 under the leadership of Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara. It became a republic in 1970.
The small West African country has since embraced multiparty democracy after independence. Former President Jawara has been in power for 30 years. His regime was overthrown by a group of young military officers headed by young Lieutenant, Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh ruled a two year transition before retiring from military to contest elections in 1996.
The former military leader later turned into a defiant dictator who has ruled the country with an iron fist for 22 years. He made strict conditions for the opposition parties to exist. Under his watched so many people were killed while others went missing.
Jammeh lost to the opposition coalition candidate Adama Barrow in the presidential polls, December 1. He first conceded defeat but later changed position by rejecting the results and called for fresh elections. He was strongly condemned for his actions before the sub-regional military intervention came to boot him out of office that sent him into exile in Equitorial Guinea.
President Adama Barrow was sworn in on the January 19, at The Gambian Embassy in Dakar. He was flown out of the country by the sub-regional leaders after concerns were raised about his personal safety. He returned to the country after the former dictator Yahya Jammeh was forced to leave.
The new administration has inherited a broken country with a collapsed economy, bad governance, human rights abuse and ethnic politics among other things that needs knowledge and experience to be fixed. The expectations of the people are high on the new administration. The questions that is lingering on everyone’s mind is whether they would be able to live up to expectations?
Meanwhile, today’s independent celebration was marked with grand style as heads of state from other countries graced the occasion.
