Jammeh’s departure in January 2017 followed a tense political impasse after the 2016 presidential election, which saw Adama Barrow elected under a coalition banner.
In his message, Jammeh claimed that his decision to leave was driven by a desire to prevent Gambians from becoming refugees due to potential conflict.
He emphasised that the arrangements for his return, including the date and flight details, will be announced by the interim executive members of the APRC.
Jammeh attributed his exit to the disputed results of the 2016 presidential election. He stated that while he initially accepted the first results announced by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), a second set of figures released days later sparked controversy and internal disagreement. “Most of my officials rejected the second results, but I urged calm and agreed to resolve the matter peacefully,” he said.
According to Jammeh, the situation escalated when ECOWAS and the African Union intervened. He claimed that a petition challenging the results was filed with the Supreme Court, which was expected to rule within six months. However, he alleged that judicial proceedings were obstructed and that international actors, including then Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and now Ghana President John Mahama failed to uphold the agreed legal process.
Jammeh further alleged that ECOWAS blocked his delegations from attending key meetings and that the AU convened an emergency session without inviting him. He said the matter was eventually escalated to the UN Security Council, which issued an ultimatum for him to leave the country. “I told them I was not afraid of military action. If they came, they would meet me here,” he declared.
He claimed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by representatives of the UN, ECOWAS, and the Gambian coalition government, allowing him to leave peacefully and return after six months. “I never intended to flee. I wanted to go to my farms. But they said the coalition feared my influence among the people and the military,” Jammeh said.
Now, nearly nine years later, Jammeh says he is ready to return. “I miss my country, and I can hear the people yearning for me. I will come back in November,” he affirmed. He added that the exact date and flight arrangements will be announced by the interim executive members of the APRC, the party he founded.
Jammeh urged his supporters to remain peaceful and law-abiding, emphasising that the APRC is not known for violence. “This announcement does not mean APRC supporters should take the law into their own hands. I want to return and live peacefully in my motherland,” he said
Jammeh’s announcement is expected to stir political debate and public reaction across the country, as questions arise about the implications of his return and the role of the APRC in shaping the next chapter of Gambian politics.
