Gambiaj.com – (Equatorial Guinea) – Former Gambian President Yahya Jammeh has announced his decision to retake full control of his breakaway faction of the Alliance for Patriotic Reorientation and Construction (APRC), the political party he founded during his presidency. Speaking from exile in Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh expressed his dissatisfaction with the group’s leadership and internal divisions, vowing to restore discipline and direction within its ranks.
In a lengthy statement issued on January 22, 2025, Jammeh criticized the APRC’s interim leadership, accusing them of failing to uphold the party’s principles and tolerating internal conflicts, including what he described as “division, hatred, and backstabbing.” He declared, “I have decided to take over my party myself and will not entrust it to anyone again. Once beaten, twice shy. Twice beaten, you are dead.”
Jammeh called for unity among party members, warning that those unwilling to adhere to the party’s vision and values should leave. “If you want to leave, the door is open,” he said. “If Allah has decreed that I have only one supporter, I will thank Him. If He gives me a million, I will thank Him. But I will not tolerate nonsense.”
The former president also emphasized his faith in divine will, asserting that the APRC’s future rests in the hands of Allah, not its detractors. He stated, “Only the Almighty Allah can distinguish the fire of the APRC. The party will not become Satan’s workshop.”
A Warning to Critics and Political Rivals
Jammeh, who has been in exile since his defeat in the 2016 presidential election, dismissed threats of arrest or legal action upon his return to The Gambia. “Whether anybody likes it or not, by the grace of the Almighty Allah, I am coming back,” he declared. “Let those threatening me with jail wait until I arrive. A day of accountability is coming, and it will be a day of reckoning.”
He accused the current Gambian administration of mismanaging the country, highlighting issues such as rising crime rates, deteriorating healthcare, and alleged corruption.
Jammeh claimed that Gambians now live in worse conditions than during his 22-year rule, which ended amidst accusations of human rights abuses and financial improprieties.
Call for Loyalists to Rally
Jammeh’s address also served as a rallying cry for APRC loyalists in The Gambia and the diaspora. He urged supporters to return to the party and work towards its revival. “The APRC is your true home,” he said. “If you love your country and sympathize with Gambians who are suffering, join us. We are the only government that can deliver prosperity and restore dignity to The Gambia.”
Jammeh concluded by reiterating his unwavering resolve to lead the APRC, promising to enforce strict discipline within its ranks. “I will not entertain blackmail or unacceptable conditions,” he warned. “Anyone who joins the APRC must be ready to uphold its principles and respect fellow members.”
As Jammeh seeks to reassert his influence from exile, his declaration is likely to reignite political debates in The Gambia, where his legacy remains deeply polarizing. While his supporters view him as a strongman who brought stability, many Gambians remember his tenure as a period of oppression and economic stagnation.
