Former President Yahya Jammeh has reportedly rejected claims that he is plotting to destabilise The Gambia, while insisting that he retains the right to defend himself, his reputation and what he describes as his country.
An audio recording purportedly featuring the exiled former president has surfaced, in which the speaker strongly denies any intention of provoking bloodshed or destruction in The Gambia.
The authenticity of the recording, however, has not been independently verified.
Drawing on his military background, the speaker describes himself as a professional soldier but says he has no desire to see The Gambia descend into war.
“I am a professional soldier, and once a soldier, always a soldier, but I have no intention to go to hell,” he says.
He insists that he would never deliberately bring war to the country or put innocent Gambians in danger.
The speaker nevertheless issues a warning that his rejection of violence should not be interpreted as a willingness to remain passive if he believes his rights or reputation have been threatened.
“But if somebody crosses the line, that guy has to pay for it,” he says, adding that he has the right to defend himself, his integrity and the country.
The recording also contains a lengthy reflection on the consequences of war. The speaker argues that those who initiate armed conflict ultimately bear responsibility for the deaths and destruction that follow.
“If you wage a war against a country, you are the one responsible for all the deaths,” he says, stressing that the consequences extend far beyond the immediate targets of a conflict.
He further warns that families who lose loved ones in a war would continue to blame those they hold responsible for bringing the conflict to the country.
The speaker also distances himself from threats allegedly being made in his name, cautioning supporters against allowing individuals to intimidate others while claiming to act on his behalf.
“I don’t want anybody to threaten you people using my name,” he says.
The recording then turns its focus to President Adama Barrow, whom the speaker accuses of repeatedly linking him to efforts to destabilise The Gambia.
He questions how President Barrow could allegedly know so much about his activities and personal circumstances while he remains in exile in Equatorial Guinea.
“You say you know when I eat; every day you know what I am doing. If I am sick, you know,” the speaker says, mocking the president’s alleged knowledge of his activities.
He also challenges the suggestion that individuals inside Equatorial Guinea are secretly providing information about his movements.
“Are you telling me that there are people that are informing you about me? That is a lie,” he says.
The speaker subsequently turns the accusation back on President Barrow, arguing that if the president is supposedly aware of events surrounding Jammeh in Equatorial Guinea, then he should also be aware of what is happening inside The Gambia.
He accuses the Barrow administration of corruption, violence and other serious wrongdoing, including allegations of killings and what he refers to as “human sacrifice.”
The recording provides no evidence to substantiate those allegations.
The speaker ultimately tells President Barrow to concentrate on governing the country rather than repeatedly invoking Jammeh’s name.
“You better fix the problem of The Gambia rather than every day lying about me,” he says, accusing Barrow of spending too much time blaming his predecessor for the country’s problems.
Jammeh ruled The Gambia for 22 years before losing the December 2016 presidential election to Barrow. After initially refusing to accept the result, he eventually left The Gambia for Equatorial Guinea in January 2017, where he has remained in exile.
The emergence of the purported recording comes at a politically sensitive time, with The Gambia preparing for the December 2026 presidential election.
Although Jammeh remains outside the country, his political legacy and continued influence over sections of Gambian society continue to feature prominently in the country’s political debate.
The latest recording is therefore likely to attract significant attention, particularly because of its direct references to President Barrow and its apparent attempt to address renewed allegations concerning Jammeh’s intentions and role in The Gambia’s political affairs.
