- Title: Gambians hopeful of future after ex-leader Jammeh's exile
- Date: 24th January 2017
- Summary: BANJUL, GAMBIA (JANUARY 24, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF AERIAL VIEWS OF BANJUL MOSQUE MINARET VARIOUS OF PEOPLE AND TRAFFIC IN STREETS GPF (GAMBIA POLICE FORCE) IN STREET BUS STOP / PEOPLE WAITING TO BOARD VEHICLES BILLBOARD READING (English): "Together for a Strong Gambia" (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANJUL RESIDENT, ALAJI KEBBA, SAYING: "We need more development for this government and then we are trying to manage and then to help the new president for him to develop the country whilst the country is not developing like this. We need more development, more than this, because the way we see our old president, the development of the country is not satisfying us. That is why we tried to vote for a new president." CARS ON STREET VARIOUS OF SHOPKEEPER SWEEPING OUTSIDE STORE VARIOUS OF MAN OPENING HIS BUSINESS PREMISES (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANJUL RESIDENT, BATURU YANKUBAH, SAYING: "In the new government, we believe that the real democracy will reveal because before, in Jammeh's regime, we did not have real democracy, but in Barrow's regime, we believe Gambians will be very happy to see democracy revealed. So, democracy is everything, so if we have pure democracy, I believe Gambia will go forward." DOWNTOWN BANJUL VARIOUS OF STREET SHOPS (SOUNDBITE) (English) BANJUL RESIDENT, MOHAMED MASANE, SAYING: "I want a better Gambia and a free Gambia for everybody, not a Gambia where people are scared to talk or people are scared to say the truth, you understand? A Gambia that is right and straight forward. A Gambia that will encourage young people because we the young people are the pillars of this country and we are so very important and vital in the development of this country. So we should be well involved...well involved in the development of this country, and that will help us to have a better Gambia." VARIOUS OF TRAFFIC TO FERRY TERMINAL IN BANJUL
- Embargoed: 7th February 2017 13:47
- Keywords: Banjul Gambia Jammeh Barrow democracy development coup
- Location: JANUARY 24, 2017
- City: JANUARY 24, 2017
- Country: Gambia
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00160FXXS7
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:In the streets of Gambian capital Banjul, residents were hopeful on Tuesday (January 24) after longtime ruler Yahya Jammeh left the country.
Jammeh flew out of the country on Saturday (January 21) en route to Equatorial Guinea after negotiations backed by regional military pressure and as West African troops were poised to remove him.
The veteran leader, who ruled the country for 22 years, had refused to hand over power to opposition challenger and now President Adama Barrow after his defeat in a December 1 election.
Banjul resident Alaji Kebba said he voted for Barrow, a businessman, because he believed he would help develop the country.
Barrow was sworn in last week as president at Gambia's embassy in neighbouring Senegal, and is now waiting to return to the country.
Rights groups accuse Jammeh, who took power in a 1994 coup, of jailing, torturing and killing political opponents.
His repressive rule and a flagging economy saw thousands flee across the Sahara and Mediterranean to Europe each year.
On Monday, refugees were streaming back into Gambia from across the river on their way back from Senegal where some 45,000 Gambians fled fearing that Jammeh's refusal to step down would spark violent unrest. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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