The return of former President Yahya Jammeh to The Gambia, without complete accountability and real restitution, will rekindle old wounds and re-traumatize victims of his rule, according to Muhammed Sandeng, the son of the late political leader Ebrima Solo Sandeng.
Sandeng stated in an exclusive interview with Kerr Fatou that he will only be in favor of Jammeh’s ultimate return if the legal system is prepared to bring charges against him and his suspected co-conspirators.
“I would love him to return when the time is right, when the necessary structures to prosecute a criminal like Jammeh are in place,” he said.
Sandeng underlined that Jammeh and his previous officials, who are alleged to have violated human rights and abused their positions, must be looked into by a special prosecutor’s office. He emphasized that Jammeh cannot be released from responsibility until the Janneh Commission and the Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Commission (TRRC) have completed their investigations, noting that their results support the necessity of thorough inquiries.
He also issued a warning, saying that Jammeh’s return has major ramifications for societal cohesion, accountability, and national security.
“Following the institution of various transitional justice processes in the country, which have leveled serious allegations of crimes so far against Jammeh, his announced intention to return to Gambia raises questions about how the government would respond to such a potential threat to peace,” Sandeng said.
He reminded the government of its constitutional obligation to maintain stability, peace, and order—elements that he feels could be threatened by Jammeh’s return.
On October 26, 2025, former President Yahya Jammeh declared his intention to return from his nine-year exile in November. Jammeh led The Gambia for 22 years under an authoritarian government characterized by claimed extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and enforced disappearances.
The government has declared that Jammeh will be welcomed back, but he must be held accountable for alleged violations of human rights during his rule, despite the fact that his scheduled homecoming has caused conflicting reactions among Gambians.
