By Adama Makasuba
Yahya Jammeh, the exiled former President of The Gambia, has announced his intention to return to his homeland despite facing potential prosecution alongside his accomplices for alleged human rights violations.
During his 22-year presidency, Jammeh oversaw severe human rights abuses, including killings, rape, arbitrary arrests, and torture. He infamously declared his ambition to rule the nation for a million years. Still, his reign ended in 2016 when he lost the elections to Adama Barrow, a relatively unknown estate developer supported by a coalition of seven political parties.
Initially, Jammeh accepted the election results but soon reversed his position, alleging irregularities. This declaration triggered chaos, prompting hundreds of Gambians to flee to neighboring Senegal after a warning from a regional bloc indicated he would be forcibly removed from power after January 10, 2017—the official end of his term. Ultimately, Jammeh fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea on January 22, 2017.
President Barrow’s coalition government established The Gambia’s Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission in response to the human rights violations during his administration. This commission was charged with investigating crimes committed between 1994 and 2017, conducting hearings over 870 days, and gathering testimonies from 392 witnesses, including victims, perpetrators, and experts.
In December 2024, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) approved the creation of a “Special Tribunal” for The Gambia to prosecute crimes against humanity perpetrated under Jammeh’s regime.
In response to these developments, Jammeh dismissed the prosecution plans as “nonsense,” asserting that his return to The Gambia was imminent. “They will not know when I come there because a dead person wouldn’t know. They speak as if they are addressing the almighty Allah. Those who are alive when I arrive will witness a significant day. Let them not run away. Whether anyone likes it or not, by the grace of Allah, I am coming,” he stated in an audio recording.
He further criticized the current situation in the country, remarking, “What they are saying is nonsense. They are causing suffering in the country. Gambians were once respected wherever they went, but now they have become a laughingstock.” Jammeh also cautioned his unnamed critics to brace for his return, which he described as a “great day” and a “day of accountability.” “Whatever you are relying on, be prepared to account for it. The day Allah has designated for my return will arrive, and I will find you there. If you try to run away, I will find you,” he added.
