Minister of Agriculture Demba Sabally has strongly responded to former President Yahya Jammeh following the exiled leader’s latest remarks claiming that no one, including President Adama Barrow, could stop his return to The Gambia.
Speaking before a large crowd at the National People’s Party (NPP) rally in Sukuta, Sabally dismissed Jammeh’s assertions and reminded him that The Gambia belongs to its citizens, not to any individual.
“You do not own The Gambia; it belongs to the Gambian people,” Sabally declared, drawing applause from supporters. “You are in another country now, and that makes you a foreigner there.”
The minister acknowledged that Jammeh, as a former head of state, has the right to return home but added that such a return must come with accountability for his actions during his 22-year rule. He cautioned that Jammeh cannot expect immunity from justice after years marked by serious human rights abuses.
Sabally recalled the dark period of Jammeh’s regime, citing the persecution of religious figures, arbitrary detentions, and deadly practices such as forcing individuals to consume harmful substances in the guise of spiritual healing.
“Many lives were lost during Jammeh’s era some faced fates so brutal that even his cattle in Kanilai were not killed in such a manner,” he said, referring to the former president’s hometown.
The minister’s comments underscored the government’s firm stance on justice and accountability, signaling that any attempt to undermine the rule of law would not be tolerated.
The Sukuta rally, part of the NPP’s ongoing outreach efforts, served not only to mobilise grassroots support but also to send a clear message to Jammeh and his supporters: The days of impunity are over.
