8 Years in Exile: Former President Jammeh maintains influence in Gambian politics

While still in exile, eight years after his 22 years of iron-fisted rule over The Gambia, former President Yahya Jammeh continues to influence the country’s political landscape significantly. 

From his base in Equatorial Guinea, where he has been since January 2017, Jammeh continues to use social media to organise large rallies in The Gambia. He is even sacking executive members of his APRC party, which has now been divided into factions.

In this explainer, DUBAWA will chronicle the Gambia’s post-Jammeh political trajectory and how the country’s most ruthless leader is still exerting influence in faraway Equatorial Guinea. 

After losing the 2017 election to current president Adama Barrow, the former military junta was forced out of power by an ECOWAS military force after he refused to hand over power. 

He was then exiled to Equatorial Guinea as part of efforts by the African Union and ECOWAS to end the political crisis.

But not long after his exile, remnants of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) demanded his return, describing him as a “builder of bridges.” In 2020, thousands of supporters of former President Yahya Jammeh protested in the Greater Banjul Area (GBA), demanding his return to the country. 

One of the supporters said, “He can come as a private citizen and stand for election and win. He can also become the president. We want him to be the president of this country. We see what he has done to this country. We have seen it. He is a peaceful man,” one of the supporters said about the Gambian “Supreme leader,” known for his repressive leadership style in the Gambia.

The wishes of his supporters may not be farfetched after all because the man who was the epicentre of Gambia’s political power and chicanery for 22 years is relishing a return after eight years in exile.

From the comfort of his farm in Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh, through a recorded WhatsApp audio, told thousands of his supporters at the rally that he would soon return. “I don’t want any violence. I don’t want anyone to touch anything or destroy anything. The agreement must be implemented,” he said, pointing to an agreement with the AU that would allow him to return to Gambia.

Before the 2020 rally, he had already told his supporters in Kanalai, through a WhatsApp call, “From today, I want to take full leadership of the party as outlined in the APRC Constitution. I am the supreme leader, the flagbearer, and the party Chairman, and I want to make this very clear.” 

Crowd of Jammeh’s supporters in Kanalai: The Fatu Network 

This was his first public statement since leaving in January 2017. 

Jammeh, who firmly believes he remains the supreme leader of the APRC, expelled seven executive members from the APRC faction. 

In a typical WhatsApp message on January 22, 2025, Jammeh stated that he had taken control of his faction and dismissed Yahya Tamba, the interim leader. 

In February of this year, Jammeh again announced the expulsion of Bakary Badjie, one of his loyalists, just days after Badjie declared his political ambition to run for the 2026 presidential election. 

On several occasions, he has released multiple WhatsApp audios criticising the current government led by Adama Barrow. 

In a recent WhatsApp audio, Jammeh accused the current Senegalese leadership, particularly Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, of allegedly stealing Gambia’s natural resources, including oil. 

Discussions about the Gambia’s oil have garnered public attention. Many, including rights groups, the opposition, and others, demand transparency. 

Following this allegation, Gambian President Adama Barrow publicly denied that his government was colluding with Senegal to sell Gambia’s oil. 

But just last week, Jammeh released a 56-minute WhatsApp audio response to rumours that he endorsed  Amie Colley’s (Foni Berefet) affiliation with the ruling National People’s Party. 

APRC factions and ‘unholy’ alliances

After Jammeh’s exit, Fabakary Tombong Jatta, the deputy party leader at the time, led the APRC. 

However, on October 4, 2021, the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC) confirmed its alliance with the National People’s Party (NPP), the party led by current President Adama Barrow. 

This announcement stirred controversy among Gambians, as activists condemned the alliance, citing crimes committed during Jammeh’s authoritarian rule. 

Following this announcement, Jammeh, who first addressed a rally in his hometown (Kanalai) from exile via WhatsApp, considered the alliance unholy and distanced himself from the agreement. This led to his dismissal of leading party members, including Tombong Jatta.

Even though Jammeh sacked Tombong, the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) still recognised him as the party leader, leading to the party division. Those party executives Jammeh sacked remained with Tombong. The other faction formed a ‘No’ to the Alliance, led by Yahya Tamba. 

Instead, Jammeh declared his party’s alliance with The Gambia Alliance for National Unity (GANU), led by his former Justice Minister Sheikh Tijan Hydara. 

Picture of Jammeh and Hydara: Kerr Fatou 

APRC Divided 

While Jammeh vehemently rejected the APRC-NPP alliance, President Adama Barrow defended his party’s alliance with the APRC, stating that it was in the country’s best interests. Once a prominent political party in the country, the APRC is facing division.

2022 National Assembly Election 

In the lead-up to the 2022 National Assembly elections, both the APRC, led by Fabakary Tombong Jatta, and the faction group led by Yahya Tamba contested the election. 

The APRC faction won five (5) seats as Independent candidates in the Foni region, all of which were occupied by the legally recognised APRC in Foni Jarrol, Bondali, Kansala, Berefet, and Bintang, a strong political base of former President Jammeh. 

Meanwhile, the Fabakary-led APRC, which is legally recognised by the IEC, secured only two seats in Jeshwang and Bundungka Kunda in the Kanifing Municipality.

Conclusion

The Gambia’s political chapter with Yahya Jammeh has yet to be closed, but the content of the next chapter remains to be determined. Will Jammeh return to the Gambia anytime soon, and what role will he play when he returns? Will he be held accountable for the many atrocities he is accused of, or will the people of Gambia decide to move on with their lives and put the dark days of Jammeh forever behind them? Time will tell.