The Gambia government has sent a clear warning to former President Yahya Jammeh that he faces prosecution over alleged crimes by his ertwhile regime should he return to the country in November this year.
Prsident Adama Barrow’s government had made a similar threat of arresting and prosecuting Jammeh after he had made a similar vow to end his exile five years ago.
The warning comes two days after Jammeh issued a voice note played in the presence of thousands of his jubilant supporters who had gathered in his home village of Kanilai on Sunday, vowing to return to The Gambia in November 2025 and possibly lead his faction of the former ruling party.
Jammeh- 60, did not appoint a date for his return but spoke of an MoU with the African Union, West African regional grouping Ecowas, the UN and the EU which supposedly committed them to accepting his eventual return.
He said the initial timeframe for his stay out of the country was six months.
Jammeh fled into exile in Equatorial Guinea in January 2017, marking an end to a month-long political impasse over the disputed outcome of the 2016 election which he had lost to current President Adama Barrow.
The Gambia descended into political crisis after Jammeh conceded the polls only to withdrew this concession a week later.
A statement released on Tuesday outlined the government’s position on the exiled ex military ruler’s threat to return, indicating in clear terms that he faces certain arrest, detention and prosecution for crimes thought to have been committed during his 22-year rule which ended in December 2016.
The authorities in Banjul also claimed that there was no agreement establishing immunity for Mr Jammeh.
”The right of every Gambian citizen, including former President Jammeh, to return home is guaranteed by the consitution and is respected under international law” the statement said but added ominously that this right will ”not shield any person from accountability for serious alleged crimes particularly those established by credible evidence and documented through the work of the Truth, Reconciliation an Reparations Commission (TRRC)”.
The government reminded President Adama Barrow’s predecessor that he remains an indiividual of investigative interest to the state after evidence to the TRRC linked him to egregious human rights abuses including summary execution, murder, torture, enforced disappearances and sexual violation.
The authorities said they regard the findings of the TRRC with utmost seriousness and will not hesistate to begin robust legal processes which will entail Jammeh’s arrest and prosecution while ensuring his right to a face trial.
The government which had come under criticism for allegedly delaying the prosecution of those thought to have been responsible for violations under Jammeh’s watch, reassured victims of such alleged crimes that the pursuit of justice remains a cornerstone of its reform policy for reconciliation and accountability.
”The implementation of the TRRC’s recommendationsas endorsed in the government’s White Paper reflects and enduring commitment to accountability, justice and non-recurrence” the statement said.
WN/as/APA