The Era of Impunity Is Over — Jammeh’s Return Must Come Through the Law, Not WhatsApp!

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator

Former President Yahya Jammeh and his self-styled supporters have once again displayed an astonishing level of arrogance and disregard for the rule of law and the intelligence of the Gambian people. After years of boasting and grandstanding on social media, the same individuals now seek “statutory guarantees” for a peaceful return—while simultaneously rejecting the legality of the very commissions that exposed the crimes, corruption, and human rights abuses of his 22-year dictatorship.

Let it be made abundantly clear: no amount of revisionist rhetoric or WhatsApp declarations can erase the facts or nullify the findings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC) and the Janneh Commission. Both commissions were lawfully established under Acts of the National Assembly, pursuant to the 1997 Constitution. Their mandates were firmly rooted in national law and recognized by international institutions including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations.

Is Yahya Jammeh and his supporters conveniently becoming passively amnesic that Jammeh himself created the Algali Commission to investigate officials of the Sir Dawda Kairaba Jawara government—a commission established not under the Constitution, but by a mere military decree? He not only recognized the legality of that commission but went ahead to implement its findings without hesitation, leading to the unlawful confiscation of properties and persecution of innocent citizens. Yet today, the same Jammeh has the audacity to question the legality of commissions established under a constitutional and democratic government. This level of hypocrisy is staggering.

Mr. Jammeh’s attempt to dismiss the TRRC and the Janneh Commission as “unconstitutional” is not only legally untenable but intellectually dishonest. Under Section 200 of the 1997 Constitution, the President, acting in consultation with the National Assembly, is empowered to establish commissions of inquiry into matters of public concern. Both the TRRC and Janneh Commission were established in accordance with that constitutional provision. Their findings and recommendations are binding within the framework of national and international law governing truth, justice, and reparations.

If Yahya Jammeh truly believes in his innocence, he is free to return home—but he must be ready to face the law. His return cannot and will not be orchestrated through social media theatrics, half-baked legal arguments, or emotional appeals for sympathy. It must be formally handled through official diplomatic and governmental channels, in coordination between his host country, the Government of The Gambia, and competent legal and security institutions.

The Gambia is no longer Yahya Jammeh’s personal property. The era of impunity, intimidation, and manipulation is over. The Gambian people have moved on—guided by the principles of justice, accountability, and the rule of law.

The TRRC and Janneh Commission were never instruments of revenge; they were institutions of truth and national healing. The appropriate response for anyone found wanting by these bodies is not arrogance or denial, but humility and a sincere apology to the Gambian people.

Instead, Mr. Jammeh and his followers continue to insult the intelligence of the nation, attempting to rewrite history and undermine lawful institutions. Their latest letter, wrapped in pseudo-legal jargon, is nothing more than an effort to evade justice and destabilize a peaceful country.

Let it be clearly understood: Yahya Jammeh can return, but he must return to face justice. The Gambian people will not allow history to repeat itself. The rule of law is not negotiable, and accountability is not optional.

The Gambia deserves closure, not chaos; justice, not justification; and truth, not tyranny.

The rule of law shall prevail—now and always.