Meet Adama Barrow: A Security Guard In London who ended President Jammeh's 22-year rule

A Gambian man, Adama Barrow who was appointed as a a security guard at Argos on Holloway Road in London has won Presidential election in his homeland.

A new era appears to be dawning in The Gambia as country’s long time president has lost the presidential election which was held this week.

He was born in a small village near the market town of Basse in the east of Gambia.

He was however thrust into the political limelight following the jailing of top officials from the United Democratic Party (UDP) in July.

Seven political parties and an independent candidate opted to join forces to field a unifying figure. That candidate was Adama Barrow.

Adama Barrow moved to London in the 2000s for further studies. Whiles there, he reportedly worked as a security guard to raise money to complete his studies in Real Estates.

He returned to his native Gambia in 2006 to set up Majum Real Estate, a property company, managing private estates.

Adama Barrow was thrust into the presidential race in September, a many felt put the odds against him.

But he was certain he could make a difference telling AFP in an interview that: “Our chances are great. People have shown us tremendous support,” a support he was confident will lead him to “win and with a bigger margin”.

And rightly so he delivered a massive victory for the opposition in Thursday’s election with 45.5 percent of the votes as against 36.7 percent secured by incumbent president Yahya Jammeh.

Barrow’s victory which effectively draws the curtain on Jammeh’s 22-year rule, for some Gambians, did not come as a surprise as he is said to have strong grassroots support.

Barrow has been critical of the jailing of opposition politicians and he is promising to promote an independent judiciary as well as freedom of the media and civil society.