Cape Town — Counting has started after presidential elections in Gambia, with the incumbent Yahya Jammeh seeking a fifth mandate. According to Reuters, the first results from two constituencies put Jammeh in the lead - but only 15% of the votes have been counted.

The national broadcaster has reportedly stopped sharing election results on live television. The general media blackout is raising suspicion among citizens, especially those in the diaspora, Saihou Mballow, one of the diaspora co-ordinators for the opposition told VOA.  "It is very difficult for the opposition to communicate with their polling agents countrywide to know what is happening."

Mballow said refusing the European Union and ECOWAS access to the country means the election cannot be termed free and fair.

However, the head of the country's Independent Electoral Commission, told RFI the country's electoral system is the best in the world and cannot be rigged. According  to Aliou Momarr Njai, the system is not expensive but permits even those who can't read and write to vote.

Reports about the election results have been patchy since the government cut off international telephone calls and access to the Internet.