Jammeh Asserts Full Control Over APRC
3 min read
The Gambia
Exiled former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh has announced his decision to assume full control of the APRC.
APRC is the product of the AFPRC junta led by Jammeh.
In a rare speech from his base in Equatorial Guinea, Jammeh did not mince his words when he expressed his dissatisfaction with the group’s leadership and internal party squabbles, vowing to restore discipline and direction within its ranks.
In a lengthy speech he delivered on 22 January 2025, Jammeh criticized the APRC’s interim leadership, accusing them of failing to toe the party lines and turning a blind eye to the internal wrangling. Jammeh indicated that APRC has been blighted by “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.”
Mr.Jammeh called for unity among party members, warning that those unwilling to adhere to the party’s vision and values should quit.
“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 Gambian dictator also highlighted 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.”
Warning to Critics and Political Rivals
Jammeh, who has been living in exile since his shock defeat at the polls in 2016, trivialized threats of arrest or legal action against him 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 Barrow dispensation of steering the country towards the wrong direction, highlighting issues such as rising crime rate, deteriorating health sector, and alleged corruption.
Jammeh claimed that Gambians now worst of than during his 22-year rule, which ended amidst accusations of human rights abuses and financial improprieties.
Rallying Call on Loyalists
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.
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