Adama Barrow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Adama Barrow
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| 𞤀𞥄𞤣𞤢𞤥𞤢 𞤄𞤢𞥄𞤪𞤮 | |
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Barrow in 2018
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| 3rd President of the Gambia | |
| Assumed office 19 January 2017 |
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| Vice President | Fatoumata Tambajang Ousainou Darboe Isatou Touray Badara Joof Muhammad B.S. Jallow |
| Preceded by | Yahya Jammeh |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 February 1965 Mankamang Kunda, British Gambia |
| Political party | National People's Party (2019–present) Independent (2016–2019) United Democratic Party (2007–2016) National Reconciliation Party (2006–2007) |
| Other political affiliations |
Coalition 2016 (2016–2019) |
| Spouses | Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow (m. 1997) Sarjo Mballow |
| Children | 5 (including 1 deceased) |
Adama Barrow (Fula: 𞤀𞥄𞤣𞤢𞤥𞤢 𞤄𞤢𞥄𞤪𞤮, romanized: Aadama Baaro, born 15 February 1965) is a Gambian politician and real estate developer. He has been the President of the Gambia since 2017.
Barrow was born in Mankamang Kunda, a village in the Jimara district. He went to Crab Island Secondary School and the Muslim High School. He received a scholarship for the Muslim High School. Later, he worked for a Gambian energy company, Alhagie Musa Njie & Sons. He became a sales manager there.
In the early 2000s, Barrow moved to London to study real estate. He returned to The Gambia in 2006. He then started his own company, Majum Real Estate. He was its CEO until 2016. He joined the United Democratic Party (UDP), an opposition party. He became the party's treasurer. In September 2016, he became the UDP leader. This happened after the previous leader was put in jail.
Barrow was chosen as the UDP candidate for the 2016 Gambian presidential election. He later ran as an independent candidate. He had the support of Coalition 2016. This group included the UDP and six other parties.
Barrow won the 2016 presidential election. He got 43.34% of the votes. He defeated the leader who had been in power for a long time, Yahya Jammeh. Jammeh first accepted the election results. But then he changed his mind. Barrow had to go to nearby Senegal for safety. He was sworn in as president at the Gambian embassy in Senegal on 19 January 2017. Jammeh was later forced to leave The Gambia on 21 January. Barrow returned to The Gambia on 26 January.
In November 2021, Adama Barrow ran for president again in the 2021 Gambian presidential election. He was re-elected.
Contents
Early Life and Career Journey
Barrow was born on 15 February 1965. This was in Mankamang Kunda, a small village near Basse Santa Su. It was three days before the Gambia became independent from the United Kingdom. His parents are Mamudu Barrow and Kaddijatou Jallow.
He went to Koba Kunda primary school. Then he attended Crab Island Secondary School in Banjul. He later got a scholarship to study at the Muslim High School. After school, he worked for Alhagie Musa Njie & Sons. This was a Gambian energy company. He became a sales manager there.
In the early 2000s, he moved to London. He studied to get qualifications in real estate. He also worked as a security supervisor at an Argos store. This helped him pay for his studies. He said this time helped him become the person he is today.
Barrow came back to The Gambia in 2006. He started Majum Real Estate. He was the chief executive officer (CEO) of this company from 2006 to 2016. On 12 June 2019, he received an award called The Africa Road Builders Babacar Ndiaye Trophy. This was for his leadership in building the Senegambia Bridge.
Barrow started his political journey with the National Reconciliation Party (NRP). In 2007, he left the NRP and joined the UDP. He lost an election to Mamma Kandeh. After that, he stayed out of the public eye until he was elected President in 2016.
Becoming President of The Gambia
The 2016 Presidential Election
On 30 October 2016, a group of seven opposition parties chose Barrow. He became their candidate for the 2016 Gambian presidential election. Before this, Barrow had not held any elected public office. He had been the treasurer of the United Democratic Party (UDP). He left the UDP on 3 November to run as an independent candidate. He had the full support of Coalition 2016.
During his campaign, he promised to bring The Gambia back into the Commonwealth of Nations. He also wanted to rejoin the International Criminal Court. He promised to improve the country's security forces. He said he would make them more professional. He also said he would set up a temporary government. This government would be made of members from the opposition group. He promised to step down after three years.
In the election, Barrow won with 43.34% of the votes. He beat Yahya Jammeh, who got 39.6%. The third candidate, Mama Kandeh, received 17.1%.
Presidential Transition and Inauguration
At first, Jammeh said he would hand over power peacefully. But on 9 December, he announced on TV that he rejected the election results. This caused a lot of concern both in The Gambia and around the world. The UN Security Council asked Jammeh to respect the people's choice. The African Union said Jammeh's statement was invalid. Many countries, including the United States and Senegal, criticized Jammeh.
Barrow left The Gambia for Senegal because he was worried about his safety. He asked Jammeh to step down. Jammeh tried to appeal the election results to the Supreme Court. But the court said it could not hear the case for several months. Jammeh then declared a state of emergency. He tried to stop Barrow from becoming president.
Barrow was sworn in as President of The Gambia. This happened at the Gambian embassy in Dakar, Senegal, on 19 January 2017. On the same day, military forces from Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana entered The Gambia. This was part of an ECOWAS military action. Their goal was to make Jammeh leave. The Gambian military did not fight against them. ECOWAS stopped the action after a few hours. They gave Jammeh one last chance to step down. On 21 January, Jammeh left The Gambia and went into exile. This cleared the way for Barrow to take power.
On 26 January, Barrow returned to The Gambia. About 2,500 ECOWAS troops stayed to help stabilize the country. Barrow asked them to stay for six months. Hundreds of people waited at Banjul International Airport to welcome him. Military officials and government members also greeted him.
On 18 February 2017, Barrow took the oath of office a second time. This ceremony was held inside The Gambia. It took place at Independence Stadium in Bakau.
Adama Barrow's Presidency
Forming a New Government
On 28 January 2017, Barrow said his cabinet members must declare their assets. This had to happen before they took their jobs. On 1 February, 10 of the 18 ministers were sworn in. This was at a ceremony at Kairaba Beach Hotel. This was Barrow's temporary home. Important roles were filled. Ousainou Darboe became Minister of Foreign Affairs. Amadou Sanneh became Minister of Finance. Isatou Touray, The Gambia's first female presidential candidate, became Minister of Trade.
Changes and Reforms in The Gambia
Human Rights and Other Improvements
On 28 January 2017, Barrow announced a change. The Gambia's official name would go back to Republic of The Gambia. Jammeh had changed it to Islamic Republic of The Gambia in 2015. Barrow also promised to ensure freedom of the press in the country. On 14 February, The Gambia started the process to rejoin the Commonwealth of Nations.
In his speech on 18 February 2017, Barrow made an important announcement. He ordered the release of all people held without trial. These people were detained under Yahya Jammeh's government. A total of 171 prisoners from Mile 2 Prison were set free. Barrow promised to end human rights violations in The Gambia. He also stopped the country from leaving the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. On 23 March, Justice Minister Abubacarr Tambadou said a special commission would be set up. This commission would help victims of Jammeh's government.
Barrow also made changes in the military and prison system. He dismissed General Ousman Badjie, the top military chief. He also dismissed 10 other senior staff in February 2017. Masaneh Kinteh replaced Badjie. David Colley, the prison director, was also dismissed and arrested.
On 21 September 2017, Barrow signed a treaty. This treaty aimed to abolish the death penalty in The Gambia. He also signed other important international agreements. These agreements included protecting migrant workers and preventing forced disappearances.
Changes to the National Intelligence Agency
On 28 January 2017, Barrow announced plans to change the country's intelligence agency. It was called the National Intelligence Agency (NIA). He said it was linked to Jammeh's government. He wanted to rename and restructure it. He said the NIA would continue, but it would follow the "rule of the law." He also said NIA staff would get more training.
On 31 January, Barrow announced the NIA would be called the State Intelligence Services (SIS). The next day, he fired the NIA Director General, Yankuba Badjie. He replaced him with Musa Dibba. Barrow also took away the NIA's power to enforce laws. Police officers temporarily took over NIA detention centers. As part of these changes, former NIA head Yankuba Badjie was arrested. He was being investigated for possible abuse of power.
Other Decisions and Foreign Relations
Barrow lifted the ban on gambling in May 2017. Jammeh had put this ban in place. Barrow hoped this would attract investors and create jobs. He also appointed Landing Kinteh as the new Inspector General of Police (IGP).
In February 2017, Barrow made a key foreign policy decision. He reversed Jammeh's choice to leave the International Criminal Court. The Gambia officially rejoined the court on 10 February. The government stated its commitment to human rights.
On 8 February 2018, The Gambia rejoined the Commonwealth of Nations. It had left this group in October 2013.
Protests Against Barrow's Term
When Barrow first came to power, he told his supporting coalition he would call for new elections after three years. This was instead of serving the full five-year term allowed by the constitution.
He later decided not to keep this promise. In late 2019 and early 2020, there were protests in The Gambia. People called for Barrow to step down after three years. This movement was known as "Operation 3-Years Jotna," meaning "Three Years is Enough." The Gambian government banned the protest movement. They called it a "subversive, violent and illegal movement."
Barrow responded to the protests by saying, "No one can force me to leave the presidency before 2021." A group called "Five-Years Jotagul" supports Barrow staying for a full five-year term. Barrow now says he believes the constitution requires him to serve a full five-year term.
Background and Views on Unity
Barrow is reported to be a member of the Mandingo ethnic group. This is the largest ethnic group in The Gambia. He has also been identified with the Fula ethnic group, based on his mother's background. Barrow himself has said he is Fula. He grew up speaking the Fula language in a Fula village. Both of his wives are Fula.
When asked about his background and his vision for The Gambia, he said he has a mixed ethnic background. He also said he is not tribalist. He wants The Gambia to be a country where tribalism has no place. He believes all Gambians should unite and work for the country's progress.
Personal Life and Interests
Barrow is a Muslim. He says his faith guides his life and his political decisions. He has two wives. His first wife is Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow, whom he married in 1997. His second wife is Sarjo Mballow. When he became president in 2017, he named Fatoumatta Bah-Barrow as the First Lady of the Gambia. Both of his wives are from the Fula ethnic group. He has four living children with his wives. His eight-year-old son, Habibu Barrow, passed away on 15 January 2017. Barrow could not attend his son's funeral. He was in Senegal for safety reasons after the election.
He is a big fan of the English football club Arsenal. He started supporting the team when he lived in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s.
Honours and Awards
National Honours
Gambia:
Grand Master and Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia
Foreign Honours
Guinea:
Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit (2021)
Liberia:
Grand Cordon of the Order of the Pioneers of Liberia (2023)
Sierra Leone:
Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic (2021)
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See also
In Spanish: Adama Barrow para niños
