Opposition candidate wins Gambia election

Opposition candidate Adama Barrow has won Gambia's presidential election, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) announced Friday.

Barrow defeated President Yahya Jammeh, who has been ruling the West African nation for 22 years.

Barrow won 263,515 votes, or 45 percent of the total, while Jammeh came second with 212,099 votes, or 36 percent. A third candidate, Mama Kandeh, received 17 percent of the votes, IEC head Alieu Momarr Njai said.

"I hereby declare Adama Barrow duly elected president of the Republic of Gambia for the next five years," Njai said.

Jammeh had said he would rule Gambia for billion years if Allah wishes. Human rights groups have accused him of rights violation including torture and extra-judicial killing. Endit