A new political era awaits The Gambia hours after the country’s authoritarian ruler Yahya Jammeh flew into exile. <br /><br /> Pressure from neighbouring West African states finally forced Jammeh to step down, after his election defeat to Adama Barrow in December. <br /><br /> Despite a whirlwind 24 hours, life in the capital Banjul appeared normal on Sunday. <br /><br /> “Today I’m a happy man because President Jammeh has gone. Right now everybody (has) calmed down. We are happy today, you know,” one man said.<br /><br /> Another man also expressed joy at Jammeh’s departure. <br /><br /> “The situation in Gambia was like being in jail. Now, he’s left us there is freedom. Under Jammeh we have suffered.”<br /><br /> The unpredictable Jammeh departed for Equatorial Guinea late on Saturday. <br /><br /> In power for 22 years, Jammeh went on to challenge December’s electoral result despite initially conceding defeat. <br /><br /> His successor Barrow, who remains in Senegal, has said he will return to The Gambia soon to take charge.<br />
