The counting of votes will begin in the vote for the Gambian presidency Election News

One million voters were registered in the election, and it is seen as a key test for the stability of the small West African country.

Polls closed in Gambia after citizens voted for the presidency in a hard-fought race seen as a test of democratic progress.

He was the first Democrat in the West African country elections In 2016, former President Yahya Jammeh was ousted from office.

Jammeh was defeated by an opposition coalition backing incumbent President Adama Barrow after refusing to accept the defeat he fled to Equatorial Guinea in 2017.

Gambia uses a unique voting system – marbles thrown at each candidate’s drum – to prevent corrupt votes in a nation with a high illiteracy rate.

Barrow, a 56-year-old former security guard and property developer, cast his vote in Banjul, accompanied by his two wives.

“I am pleased to see the high turnout of Gambian voters,” he said, adding that he was confident of victory.

The results are expected by Sunday according to the simple majority system, but the provisional figures will start late on Saturday.

Barrow faces five opponents, including his former political mentor, 73-year-old Ousainou Darboe, whom he sees as his main challenge.

There were no news interruptions and Darbo called on his supporters of the tourism-dependent nation to remain calm.

“Remember, when we are in the tourist season, the slightest mess in this country will drive away all tourists,” he said.

The smallest nation in Africa on the mainland

Nearly one million people with a population of 2.5 million are registered to vote in Gambia, the smallest country on the African continent.

Before the polls opened, officials took out their drums to show that the queues of voters were empty.

Other candidates included Essa Mbye Faal, a senior adviser to the Gambian Truth, Reconciliation and Reparation Committee, who recounted the abuses of Jammeh’s rule, and Mama Kandeh, who was ranked third in 2016 and is backed by Jammeh.

As the campaign ended on Thursday, hundreds of Barrow supporters rallied in a recent rally in central Banjul, hoping another Barrow mandate would ensure stability as Gambia wants to leave Jammeh’s 22-year rule behind.

Critics, however, have said that Barrow has broken his promises, stating how he has backed down from his commitment to be only three years old after winning in 2016. Barrow has argued that the constitution should serve a full five-year term.