Yahya Jammeh,
one of the most violently homophobic people in power in the world, has lost the
presidential election.
Gambia’s
long-time ruler, who has been the president for 22 years, may finally concede
power to opposition leader Adama Barrow.
Adama received
263,515 votes while Jammeh won 212,099, Alieu Momarr Njai, the electoral commission
head, announced in the capital Banjul on Friday.
‘I hereby
declare Adama Barrow duly elected to serve as president of the Republic of
Gambia,’ Njai said.
Jammeh has
repeatedly threatened to have any gay person murdered in Gambia, often
threatening to ‘slit throats’ and has referred to LGBTI people as ‘vermin’,
‘anti-God’, and ‘anti-human’.
‘All empires
before collapsed not at the time they were weakest, but at the peak of their
might and when they equated themselves with the Almighty Allah,’ he said in
2015.
‘So this evil
empire of homosexuals will also go down the dirty drain and garbage of hell.’
In 2014, the
Gambian president signed a law that jailed anyone convicted of ‘aggravated
homosexuality’ – such as being accused twice of the crime – would face life in
prison. Dozens of people were reportedly subsequently arrested.
He also said
how you could ‘cure’ AIDS with herbs and bananas. During a 2013 speech at the
UN, he described homosexuality as the ‘biggest threat to human existence’.
Gay rights activists
have applauded the defeat of one of the most powerful homophobes.
‘This is a good
thing for equality and diversity for LGBTI Gambians and the world at large,’
Edwin Sesange, director of the LGBTI African group Out and Proud Diamond.
‘His views,
policies and actions towards the LGBTI were venomous.
‘We hope the
new leader will be a president for all people. We appeal to the new leader to
strike down the anti-gay laws and sentiments that were prepared for Yahya
Jammeh’.
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