The Gambia government has denied claims that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed granting former president Yahya Jammeh immunity from prosecution.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the government said there is no agreement or document shielding Jammeh from accountability for crimes committed during his 22-year rule.

“The Government wishes to correct recent claims about the existence of a Memorandum of Understanding or any promise of immunity for the former President. No such agreement exists,” the statement read.

It clarified that the only document linked to Jammeh’s 2017 departure was an unsigned Joint Declaration by the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, which aimed to secure a peaceful transition.

“This declaration was a diplomatic effort, not a binding guarantee. It conferred no immunity from prosecution, nor did it place former President Jammeh beyond the reach of the law,” the government said.

The clarification follows public statements by the former president announcing his intention to return to The Gambia after years in exile.

The government reaffirmed that while Jammeh, like any citizen, has the constitutional right to return home, that right does not protect him from legal accountability for alleged crimes documented by the Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Commission (TRRC).

It said any return by the former president would trigger “robust legal processes” including investigation, arrest and prosecution, in accordance with Gambian law and fair-trial standards.

The statement concluded by assuring victims and their families that justice and accountability remain central to the implementation of the TRRC’s recommendations and the government’s ongoing reform agenda.