Former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh Announces Shocking Return to The Gambia After 9 Years in Exile
Former Gambian President, Yahya Jammeh Announces Shocking Return to The Gambia After 9 Years in Exile
In a stunning political twist, former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh — who ruled the tiny West African nation with an iron grip for 22 years — has announced plans to return home next month after nearly a decade in exile.
Jammeh, who was ousted in 2017 following a tense political standoff after refusing to accept election defeat, made the revelation through a live address to supporters gathered in his hometown of Kanilai. Thousands of cheering loyalists flooded the streets, chanting his name and waving his party’s flags in celebration.
According to Jammeh, his agreement with ECOWAS — the regional bloc that mediated his departure to Equatorial Guinea — “only required six months abroad before returning to contest elections again.” He insisted that his prolonged exile was “a violation of that deal” and declared that he is “coming home to reclaim what belongs to the Gambian people.”
🔥 Political Shockwaves
The announcement has sent shockwaves across The Gambia’s political landscape. Jammeh remains a deeply polarizing figure — revered by his supporters as a strongman who brought stability and development, but remembered by others for human rights abuses, disappearances, and corruption during his long rule.
Observers say his planned return could reshape the political balance ahead of the next general elections. His party, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), has maintained influence, especially in the Foni region, but had been fractured since his exile.
🗣️ Mixed Reactions Nationwide
While his loyalists have welcomed the news as “divine justice,” critics and rights activists have raised concerns. Many insist that Jammeh must first face justice for the crimes committed under his regime.
⚖️ What Happens Next?
ECOWAS and the Gambian government have yet to issue official statements. However, Jammeh’s potential return could test the country’s fragile democracy and reignite old political divisions.
With tensions rising and excitement building in Kanilai, all eyes are now on Banjul — and on whether the former strongman will indeed make his dramatic return.
