The chairman and party leader of the Alliance for Patriotic Re-orientation and Construction (APRC), Honourable Fabakary Tombong Jatta, who also serves as the speaker of the National Assembly, has declared that former President Yaya Jammeh cannot return to The Gambia without the express approval of the current government. Jatta made these remarks during a party congress held at Janjanburreh in the Central River Region.
During his speech, Jatta addressed the ongoing debate regarding Jammeh’s potential return to the country, emphasizing that such a decision lies in the hands of the government and that it would require formal consent from the authorities before the former leader could come back.
His comments come amid increasing speculation and calls from various factions within and outside the APRC regarding Jammeh’s return to The Gambia.Jatta also pointed out that a group within the party, known as the “APRC No to Coalition,” is actively resisting efforts for Jammeh’s return. He suggested that some members of this faction are in possession of properties belonging to the former president and have ulterior motives for opposing his homecoming.
According to Jatta, these individuals are more concerned with holding onto their material gains than with Jammeh’s return, hinting at internal conflicts within the party that may be hindering unity on the issue.The APRC, which was formerly led by Jammeh during his 22 years in power, has seen divisions since the coalition government that ousted Jammeh in 2017. Some members of the party have called for the former president’s return, while others have aligned themselves with the current political landscape, further complicating the issue.Jatta’s statement at the congress reflects the complex and sensitive nature of the discussions surrounding Jammeh’s possible return, a topic that continues to spark debate within both the APRC and the broader Gambian political scene.
