Yahya Jammeh, The Gambia's authoritarian president of 22 years, has suffered a surprise defeat in presidential elections. He will be replaced by a property developer, Adama Barrow, who won more than 45% of the vote. Mr Jammeh, who came to power in a coup in 1994, has not yet spoken since the results were announced. Electoral commission chief Alieu Momar Njie Njie has appealed for calm as the country entered uncharted waters. The West African state has not had a smooth transfer of power since independence from Britain in 1965. Mr Barrow won 263,515 votes (45.5%) in Thursday's election, while President Jammeh took 212,099 (36.7%), according to the electoral commission. A third party candidate, Mama Kandeh, won 102,969 (17.8%). "There will be celebrations, there will be disappointment, but we all know we are all Gambia," Mr Njie said, after announcing the results on Friday. Read more
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