In recent weeks, both the print and electronic media have been abuzz with speculation surrounding former president Yahya Jammeh’s possible return to The Gambia this November. His loyalists, particularly within the APRC “No to Alliance” faction, have heightened the tension by making bold pronouncements and preparing for what they describe as a triumphant homecoming. Their activities, from public rallies to social-media campaigns, have only fuelled further debate and uncertainty in an already delicate political climate.
Yet beyond the noise lies an inescapable truth: Yahya Jammeh is not an ordinary citizen returning home after years abroad. He is a former head of state against whom the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) laid grave findings.
These include enforced disappearances, torture, extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and widespread human-rights abuses that spanned two decades. Human-rights lawyers and victims’ groups have rightly reminded the public that Jammeh’s return would be no simple affair. International law, as well as The Gambia’s own commitments, demands that allegations of this magnitude cannot be swept aside. If he were to land on Gambian soil, the expectation—both legally and morally—is that he be arrested and prosecuted.
The way forward, therefore, must be guided by clarity, calm, and the rule of law. Government must communicate clearly to prevent misinformation and political manipulation. Security services must prepare professionally to avoid any escalation, while reaffirming that no individual stands above the law. Political actors and opinion leaders should resist the temptation to inflame tensions for short-term gain.
Most importantly, the rights and voices of victims must remain at the centre of this national conversation. Justice delayed must not become justice denied. The country has embarked on a journey of truth and accountability; it cannot afford to retreat now. Whatever happens in November, the nation must reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law, reconciliation, and a future built on justice—not fear or nostalgia.
