Victims of human rights abuses under former President Yahya Jammeh have warned against his return to The Gambia without accountability, saying it would threaten national peace and undo years of progress in justice and reconciliation.
In a statement issued by the Alliance of Victim-Led Organisations (AVLO), the group representing thousands of survivors and families of victims of Jammehโs 22-year rule urged President Adama Barrow and international partners not to facilitate Jammehโs return under any conditions that grant him impunity.
โPeace cannot be built on impunity,โ AVLO said, rejecting claims by Jammehโs supporters that his return would promote unity and stability.
The group welcomed the governmentโs position that while every Gambian has the right to return home, that right does not protect anyone from prosecution for crimes documented by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC). However, AVLO called for โrobust, verifiable actionโ to ensure accountability and protect witnesses.
The victims warned that Jammehโs unconditional return could reignite fear, embolden perpetrators, and erode public trust in the transitional justice process. They called on the United Nations, African Union, and ECOWAS to ensure that justice, not impunity, guides any decision regarding Jammehโs return.
โReconciliation must begin with truth and justice, not silence and fear,โ the statement concluded.
