Gov’t Vows to Arrest and Prosecute Jammeh if He Returns

Banjul, 28 October 2025 — The Gambia Government has declared its firm stance that former President Yahya Jammeh will face the full force of the law should he return to the country.

In a statement issued on Monday, the government said that while every Gambian, including Jammeh, has the constitutional right to return home, this right does not shield anyone from prosecution for serious crimes.

The announcement follows recent comments by the former leader expressing his intention to return after years in exile. The government said it found it necessary to clarify its position to citizens and international partners.

“The right to return home is guaranteed by the Constitution and respected under international law. However, it does not exempt any person from accountability for serious alleged crimes,” the statement said.

The government cited findings of the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC), which implicated Jammeh in “grave human rights violations, including murder, torture, enforced disappearances, and sexual violence.” It stressed that these findings are taken with “utmost seriousness” and that robust legal measures will be activated in line with Gambian law.

“If and when Mr. Jammeh returns, there will be investigation, arrest, and prosecution — with guarantees of due process, fair trial standards, and respect for the rights of all involved,” the statement added.

The government also refuted claims that Jammeh was granted immunity or protection from prosecution, describing such reports as false. It explained that no Memorandum of Understanding exists, and the only document related to Jammeh’s 2017 departure was an unsigned joint declaration by the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations — a diplomatic effort to secure a peaceful transition, not a legal shield.

“As a sovereign nation, The Gambia retains the right and duty to prosecute serious crimes within its borders,” the statement emphasized. “No political understanding, signed or unsigned, can override this obligation.”

The government reassured victims and their families that justice remains central to national reconciliation, affirming that the TRRC’s recommendations — as endorsed in the Government’s White Paper — reflect an enduring commitment to accountability, justice, and non-recurrence.

Concluding the statement, the government pledged to uphold the rule of law and ensure that impunity is never tolerated. “The Gambia remains steadfast in building a just, peaceful, and democratic society for all, where the rights of every person are safeguarded,” it said.

A Rebuttal to GDC Leader Mamma Kandeh’s Baseless Claims on the 2021 Election

By Yaya Dampha, NPP Diaspora Coordinator

October 27, 2025 | Banjul, The Gambia

Once again, the GDC leader, Mamma Kandeh, has resurfaced with tired and baseless allegations that the 2021 presidential election was rigged. These claims are not only false but also a desperate attempt to mislead the Gambian people and distort a democratic process that was declared free, fair, and transparent by every credible observer — both local and international.

1. Lies About Voter Registration

Mr. Kandeh’s claim that the National People’s Party (NPP) continued to register voters after the official closure of the registration exercise is nothing short of fiction.

Let it be made abundantly clear: the NPP does not, and cannot, conduct voter registration.

In The Gambia, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) — not any political party — is the only institution legally mandated to register voters. The registration exercise was conducted publicly, nationwide, and monitored by agents of all political parties, including the GDC.

If Kandeh truly believed voter registration continued beyond the official period, he should be able to answer simple questions:

Where did this so-called registration take place?

Who conducted it?

Why did he and his party remain silent throughout the process and only began complaining after losing the election?

The truth is clear: no illegal registration ever took place. Kandeh’s story is a fabrication designed to mislead the public and gain sympathy.

2. The Gambian Election Process Is Transparent and Verifiable

The Gambian electoral system is one of the most transparent in Africa. From voter registration to vote counting, every stage is conducted in public view and under strict scrutiny.

Party agents, local observers, and international monitors were present in every polling station. Votes were cast in transparent ballot drums, counted on the spot before everyone, and results were publicly announced and recorded at each polling station before transmission to regional centers.

Every political party — including the GDC — signed the official result sheets. If Mamma Kandeh truly believed there was manipulation, he should present evidence, not hollow political rhetoric.

3. Observer Reports Confirmed the Election’s Credibility

The 2021 presidential election was widely recognized as credible, peaceful, and transparent.

The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) described the process as “peaceful, transparent, and professionally managed.”

ECOWAS and the African Union both affirmed that the elections “reflected the will of the Gambian people.”

The Gambia Civil Society Coalition on Elections reported no irregularities significant enough to affect the final outcome

These respected institutions are independent. Their findings expose Kandeh’s claims as baseless political propaganda.

4. We Understand Mamma Kandeh’s Frustration

We at the NPP understand Mamma Kandeh’s frustration. It is no secret that his party is facing an internal collapse, with members and supporters abandoning him in large numbers to join the NPP — including elected Members of Parliament and councillors.

It is not easy for him politically, and this frustration is now showing through his reckless accusations and attempts to discredit the IEC and the democratic process that he once participated in fully.

Instead of attacking the system, Mr. Kandeh should look inward and ask himself why Gambians — including his own loyalists — continue to reject his leadership and embrace the vision of progress and stability under the NPP.

5. Respect the Will of the Gambian People

The Gambian people made their choice in December 2021. Their votes were counted transparently, and their voices were heard. The IEC performed its duties with professionalism, and the results were endorsed by both domestic and international observers.

Mr. Kandeh should stop insulting the intelligence of Gambians with falsehoods. The people deserve truth, honesty, and leadership, not politics of bitterness and deception.

The NPP will continue to defend democracy, uphold transparency, and focus on development — while others waste their time spreading lies.

The Gambia has moved forward, and no amount of revisionism will turn the clock back.

Signed:

Yaya Dampha

NPP Diaspora Coordinator

National People’s Party (NPP)

Government Denies Claims of Issuing 20,000 Diplomatic Passports

The Government of The Gambia has firmly dismissed allegations that it has issued 20,000 diplomatic passports, describing the claim as false and misleading.

In a press release, the Government clarified that the issuance of diplomatic passports in The Gambia is governed by a transparent and well-defined process. These passports are granted only to Gambian diplomats, their spouses, senior government officials, Gambians serving in international organizations, and other individuals officially representing the country’s interests at home and abroad.

To ensure accountability, the Government noted that as of the end of 2024, a total of 3,030 diplomatic passports had been issued — a figure that was duly shared with the National Assembly.

The statement urged the public to disregard what it described as “baseless allegations” made by a Senegalese journalist and politician, who claimed that the passports were distributed to relatives and former ministers of Senegal’s former President, H.E. Macky Sall. The Government emphasized that this claim is entirely unfounded and appears to be a deliberate attempt to misinform the public and sow discord between The Gambia and the Republic of Senegal.

The Government encouraged citizens to rely solely on official sources for verified information and expressed gratitude to the Gambian people for their continued trust, vigilance, and understanding.

Two Convicted in Bijilo Land Fraud: Court Orders D2.5 Million Compensation

By JarranewsTV Staff Reporter

The Banjul Magistrate’s Court, presided over by Principal Magistrate M. Krubally, has convicted two men—Omar Sey and Dembo Touray—for their involvement in a fraudulent land transaction in Bijilo that defrauded a buyer of D2.5 million.

In a judgment delivered on October 20, 2025, Magistrate Krubally found both accused guilty of conspiracy to defraud and obtaining money by false pretence, while the first accused, Omar Sey, was further convicted on four additional counts of forgery, uttering false documents, and giving false information to a public officer.

             Background of the Case

The case, prosecuted by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), arose from a land transaction in which the complainant, Mbackeh Sowe, purchased a plot in Bijilo for D2,500,000. Evidence presented in court revealed that the rightful owner of the land, Baba Mustapha Marong, a retired Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Information, neither issued a power of attorney nor authorized any sale of the property.

According to testimony, Omar Sey presented a fraudulent power of attorney purportedly signed by Mr. Marong and produced a false police report claiming that the original documents were lost. He then used those falsified papers to conduct a search at the Ministry of Lands, process a Deed of Assignment, and execute the fraudulent sale to the complainant.

The prosecution called five witnesses, including the intermediaries involved in the sale and the true owner of the property, who confirmed that the land was still lawfully his

               Findings of the Court

In delivering judgment, Magistrate Krubally held that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt. The court found that both accused acted jointly to defraud the complainant.

The magistrate dismissed Sey’s defence—that he acted on the instruction of an unknown individual identified only as “Mr. Njie”—as implausible. His own cautionary statement, tendered as Exhibit B, confirmed his active role in processing the fraudulent documents.

Regarding Dembo Touray, the court found that although he denied direct involvement in document forgery, his repeated presence during the payment stages and his admission of receiving a commission demonstrated his complicity.

       Sentencing and Compensation Orders

Magistrate Krubally described the offences as “aggravated acts of calculated deceit”, before imposing the following sentences:

Omar Sey (First Accused):

Convicted on six counts—including conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence, forgery, uttering, and giving false information.

Fine: D5,000 on each count (total D30,000), in default six months’ imprisonment per count (total three years).

Compensation Order: D1,900,000 to the victim, in default six years’ imprisonment.

The court directed that default sentences shall run consecutively.

Dembo Touray (Second Accused):

Convicted on two counts of conspiracy and false pretence.

Fine: D5,000 on each count (total D10,000), in default six months’ imprisonment per count (total one year).

Compensation Order: D600,000 to the victim, in default two years’ imprisonment.

The default sentences are also to run consecutively.

In accordance with Section 191 of the Criminal Offences Act (2025), the magistrate granted the prosecution’s application for compensation, emphasizing the financial losses suffered by the complainant

Mitigation and Pleas for Leniency

Both convicts, described as first-time offenders, entered pleas for leniency.

Omar Sey cited health concerns and told the court that he had D1,000,000 ready through his counsel as part payment of compensation.

Dembo Touray pleaded for mercy, explaining that he is a family man with three wives and several dependents.

The court noted their pleas but maintained that the seriousness of the offence warranted a deterrent sentence.

Has the UDP Lost Its Bearings?

The recent appointment of Pa Manneh of Brikama as the new campaign manager of the United Democratic Party (UDP) has raised serious questions about the party’s direction and judgment. For a movement that once symbolized steadfast opposition, democratic ideals, and moral integrity, this decision may prove to be one of its gravest missteps.

Pa Manneh is not a new figure within the UDP. As one of the party’s early members and former youth leader, he played a pivotal role during its formative years. Yet, his political record since then has been marred by controversy and mistrust. During the turbulent years following the collapse of the National Alliance for Democracy and Development (NADD) in 2006, it was widely alleged that Pa Manneh and others were compromised by the former regime of Yahya Jammeh — acting as informants against the very opposition they once championed.

Those allegations gained further weight when Pa Manneh eventually crossed over to the ruling APRC, serving as an elected councillor under Jammeh’s government until the regime’s fall in 2017. His subsequent return to the UDP after Jammeh’s exile was seen by many as a calculated move rather than an act of reconciliation.

Fast forward to today: the UDP, weakened by internal resignations and factional infighting — notably the departure of Talib Ahmed Bensouda and other key figures — seems to be struggling to regain coherence. The choice of Pa Manneh as campaign manager, therefore, reflects not strategic renewal, but desperation.

For a party that once stood as the moral compass of Gambian politics, entrusting its campaign machinery to a figure with such a chequered political history undermines its credibility and alienates its base. It signals a party adrift — uncertain of its values, haunted by internal disarray, and seemingly willing to sacrifice principle for expedience.

If the UDP is to remain relevant in the evolving political landscape, it must confront these contradictions head-on. Otherwise, history may remember this decision not as a revival, but as the moment the UDP truly lost its bearings.

Editorial: A Beacon of Hope and Compassion — Celebrating the Visionary Leadership of Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah Barrow

     

 

By JarraNewsTV Editorial Board

In a time when the world yearns for compassionate leadership, Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah Barrow, First Lady of the Republic of The Gambia, continues to stand tall as a symbol of humility, dedication, and transformative service. Through her tireless humanitarian work and the far-reaching initiatives of the Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation (FaBB), she has profoundly impacted the lives of countless Gambians — especially women, children, and the most vulnerable.

Her Excellency’s leadership is one rooted in quiet strength and deep compassion. Rather than grandstanding, she has let her work speak for itself — touching communities across the country and bringing tangible change to ordinary lives. From health to education, from clean water to empowerment, her initiatives reflect a vision anchored in service and sustainability.

In the health sector, the First Lady’s efforts have revitalized hope for thousands. Through the provision of medical equipment, support to hospitals, and nationwide campaigns for maternal and child health, she has become a champion of wellbeing for families in both urban and rural Gambia. Her commitment to ensuring that women and children receive quality healthcare stands as a cornerstone of her humanitarian agenda.

Equally inspiring is her unwavering commitment to education, particularly in advancing the rights and opportunities of the girl child. Her Excellency has persistently advocated for girls’ education — offering scholarships, improving school facilities, and mentoring young women to believe in their potential. Her philosophy that “an educated girl is an empowered nation” continues to resonate, opening doors for many who might otherwise have been left behind.

Her compassion, however, extends even further. Through the Fatoumatta Bah Barrow Foundation, the First Lady has spearheaded a clean water initiative that has changed the face of many rural communities. By installing solar-powered boreholes, she has brought safe and reliable drinking water to families who once struggled daily for access. This intervention has gone beyond improving health — it has created new economic opportunities.

Women gardeners, in particular, have reaped enormous benefits as they now have consistent access to water for their crops. This has boosted agricultural productivity, increased household income, and strengthened local economies. In essence, Her Excellency has turned water — once a burden — into a source of empowerment and prosperity.

Her organizational prowess and her ability to bring people together around a common goal have earned her immense respect both at home and abroad. By fostering partnerships between government agencies, international donors, and grassroots organizations, she has amplified the reach and impact of her work. Her leadership is a blend of compassion and competence — a model of what humanitarian service should look like in the 21st century.

At JarraNewsTV, we recognize Her Excellency Fatoumatta Bah Barrow not just as The Gambia’s First Lady, but as a mother of the nation, a unifier, and a beacon of inspiration to women across Africa and beyond. Her kindness, humility, and tireless devotion to humanity reflect the very best of Gambian values — compassion, hard work, and collective progress.

As the nation continues on its journey toward inclusive development, the legacy of Fatoumatta Bah Barrow will remain etched in our hearts — a legacy defined by hope, empowerment, and the relentless pursuit of a better future for all.

JarraNewsTV Editorial Board

In celebration of exemplary leadership and humanitarian excellence.