During a meeting with members of former President Yahya Jammeh’s family, President Adama Barrow said that he has no personal animosity towards Mr. Jammeh and has made efforts to reconcile with him, but without success.

The family of Jammeh, headed by Alhagie Jammeh, a former legislator of Foni Jarrol, convened at the State House on Sunday to express gratitude to President Barrow for the visit he extended to them in 2021.

The president said that the functioning of the government is guided by values. Despite his inability to alter government choices, he maintains a strong inclination towards fostering mutual respect between himself and Jammeh. The individual expressed their belief that it would be prudent to reconcile and resolve any existing conflicts, since they see a familial connection between themselves and Jammeh’s family.

According to Barrow, Jammeh has significantly contributed to the development of The Gambia during his presidency. Barrow expresses concern that any negative occurrences inside the nation may lead to the potential destruction of the progress achieved under Jammeh’s leadership.
President Barrow proceeded to divulge his involvement in the prevention of the eviction of Jammeh’s family from their residence in Kanilai, despite the fact that the property had been confiscated by the Janneh Commission.

The intention was to displace his family from the premises; however, I firmly rejected this proposition, asserting that such an occurrence would not transpire during my tenure as president. Had I not interfered, his family would have faced eviction far earlier. I am making concerted efforts to foster and maintain amicable friendships and familial ties with Jammeh. The ability to influence government choices is beyond my control, nevertheless it is imperative for all individuals to collectively embrace a relationship with the former president that is characterized by respect. Barrow noted that a like occurrence occurred in the situation involving the residence of Saul Badjie, were his maternal figure now dwells.

Barrow conveyed to the Jammeh family that the impermanence of any given circumstance is a fundamental truth, and he is cognizant of the eventuality whereby he would assume the status of a former president. Consequently, he expressed his desire for the same level of respect that he extended to both Jawara and Jammeh to be reciprocated towards him.

He informed the family that their visit had positive implications for the country’s national security.

During my journey to Kanilai, I had not initially intended to see Jammeh’s family. However, I reasoned that it would be inappropriate to go all the way to Kanilai without paying a visit to Jammeh’s family. Considerable controversy surrounded my travel to that location, with some individuals expressing disapproval of my decision to go there. However, I want to clarify that I have no animosity against Jammeh.
Barrow emphasized that the presidency is not exclusive to any one and that, ultimately, it will conclude when fate determines its termination. He also said that he bears no responsibility for the conclusion of Jammeh’s administration.

The conclusion might be drawn that the termination of Jammeh’s presidency was attributed to divine intervention, since it is widely acknowledged that he held a position of considerable influence among the leaders of West Africa. To this day, the manifestation of his influence remains evident. The president playfully said that there are some automobiles belonging to him present here which evoke a sense of apprehension in us, discouraging their use.

To comprehend Jammeh’s circumstances, it is crucial to acknowledge his lack of preparedness for the possibility of being ousted, particularly by a someone with a commercial background such as himself. According to Barrow, he was taken aback.

The mother of Jammeh.

During the unfortunate event of his mother’s passing, I happened to be in Togo with the President of Equatorial Guinea. Jammeh initiated contact with him on the prevailing circumstances and implored his assistance in facilitating the repatriation of the deceased individual’s remains to The Gambia for interment, since there was an absence of individuals available to perform the necessary ablutions. The President of Equatorial Guinea subsequently engaged in discussions with Presidents Nana Akufo Addo and Alasana Ouattara of Ghana and Ivory Coast, respectively, in order to facilitate a dialogue regarding the possibility of permitting the burial of her deceased body in The Gambia. However, prior to their scheduled meeting with me, they contemplated seeking the intervention of President Macky Sall to initiate a conversation with me. Upon being informed of this proposal by President Sall, I promptly acceded to their request. Every possible effort was made to provide assistance for that particular procedure. As previously said, Jammeh did not contemplate the prospect of being in exile with his mother and family. On that particular day, I assumed the responsibility of resolving his predicament since I was the one person capable of doing so. According to Barrow, if the individual in question had been someone else, they would have declined. The speaker closed by expressing his commitment to maintaining an open and positive relationship with the Jammeh family.