Emotional Gambians have taken to Twitter to describe their joy at Yahya Jammeh's surprise election defeat. 

Online daily Freedom Newspaper says Mr Jammeh, who was seeking a fifth term in office, "grossly under-performed" in key regions.

For those in the diaspora, many of whom fled repressive policies under Mr Jammeh, the result represents a long-hoped for opportunity finally to visit their families back home.

">https://twitter.com/mnjie/status/804673462757376000" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="23">

— (@mnjie) ">

">https://twitter.com/mnjie/status/804673462757376000" data-tweet-id="804673462757376000" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@mnjie) ">

Mbye Njie @mnjie

Can't believe I get to go home finally. I get to see my family. Can't stop crying.

https://twitter.com/evincentb/status/804665162829537280 …

">https://twitter.com/evincentb/status/804665162829537280" href="https://t.co/j1Rc4YMa60" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" data-expanded-url="https://twitter.com/evincentb/status/804665162829537280" data-scribe="element:url">https://twitter.com/evincentb/status/804665162829537280 …

— (@evincentb) https://twitter.com/evincentb/status/804665162829537280 …

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">https://twitter.com/mnjie/status/804673462757376000" data-datetime="2016-12-02T13:07:58+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp">

— (@mnjie)

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">https://twitter.com/LeBigSillah/status/804663606956724228" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="20">

— (@LeBigSillah) ">

">https://twitter.com/LeBigSillah/status/804663606956724228" data-tweet-id="804663606956724228" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@LeBigSillah) ">

Matarr Sillah @LeBigSillah

Overwhelming emotions on the diaspora radios atm. Jammeh has brought a lot of pain to Gambians, but we will deal with him later.

· Oakton, VA

">https://twitter.com/LeBigSillah/status/804663606956724228" data-datetime="2016-12-02T12:28:48+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp"> · Oakton, VA

— (@LeBigSillah) · Oakton, VA

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">https://twitter.com/SwesterrMai/status/804667313542676480" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="21">

— (@SwesterrMai) ">

">https://twitter.com/SwesterrMai/status/804667313542676480" data-tweet-id="804667313542676480" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@SwesterrMai) ">

*Mizzle* @SwesterrMai

Words cannot fully describe how I feel at this moment! I am super proud of my country and its Citizens!

">https://twitter.com/SwesterrMai/status/804667313542676480" data-datetime="2016-12-02T12:43:32+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp">

— (@SwesterrMai)

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Others are celebrating the end of Mr Jammeh's 22 years rule:

">https://twitter.com/_AKhann/status/804665452425334784" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="19">

— (@_AKhann) ">

">https://twitter.com/_AKhann/status/804665452425334784" data-tweet-id="804665452425334784" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@_AKhann) ">

Asiatou? @_AKhann

It actually feels good to say we have a new president. May Allah continue to bless Gambia ??

· Pawtucket, RI

">https://twitter.com/_AKhann/status/804665452425334784" data-datetime="2016-12-02T12:36:08+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp"> · Pawtucket, RI

— (@_AKhann) · Pawtucket, RI

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Others said the moment harks back to when the country gained independence from colonial powers:

">https://twitter.com/Yahaddyy/status/804676185515028480" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="24">

— (@Yahaddyy) ">

">https://twitter.com/Yahaddyy/status/804676185515028480" data-tweet-id="804676185515028480" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@Yahaddyy) ">

yahaddy? @Yahaddyy

This is how our grandparents felt when Gambia gained independence

">https://twitter.com/Yahaddyy/status/804676185515028480" data-datetime="2016-12-02T13:18:47+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp">

— (@Yahaddyy)

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">https://twitter.com/dadswagga/status/804661408529084418" data-iframe-title="Twitter Tweet" data-dt-full="%{hours12}:%{minutes} %{amPm} - %{day} %{month} %{year}" data-dt-months="Jan|Feb|Mar|Apr|May|Jun|Jul|Aug|Sep|Oct|Nov|Dec" data-dt-am="AM" data-dt-pm="PM" data-dt-now="now" data-dt-s="s" data-dt-m="m" data-dt-h="h" data-dt-second="second" data-dt-seconds="seconds" data-dt-minute="minute" data-dt-minutes="minutes" data-dt-hour="hour" data-dt-hours="hours" data-dt-abbr="%{number}%{symbol}" data-dt-short="%{day} %{month}" data-dt-long="%{day} %{month} %{year}" data-scribe="page:tweet" data-twitter-event-id="22">

— (@dadswagga) ">

">https://twitter.com/dadswagga/status/804661408529084418" data-tweet-id="804661408529084418" data-scribe="section:subject">

— (@dadswagga) ">

Dad_SwaGga™ @dadswagga

WHAT A TIME TO BE ALIVE!!!

MOMMMMMMMMAAAAAAA WEEEEEEE MADDDEEEEEEE IT!!

I CAN'T STOP CRYING!!

">https://twitter.com/dadswagga/status/804661408529084418" data-datetime="2016-12-02T12:20:04+0000" data-scribe="element:full_timestamp">

— (@dadswagga)

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Some are calling for the outgoing president to be jailed and terming opposition Adama Barrow's victory a "revolution":

BBC