Exiled former Gambian president Yahya Jammeh says he declined a visit request from Foni Berefet MP Amie Colley and other Gambian women due to fears of being falsely accused of sexual misconduct.

In a recent WhatsApp audio message to his supporters, Jammeh claimed malicious rumours and past allegations of rape have made him cautious about receiving visitors, particularly women.

“I told her I’m not going to allow any woman or man to come see me and then face trouble back home,” Jammeh said. “They’ve falsely accused me of rape before… now, if someone visits, they might say you slept with me. I’ve had enough.”

Jammeh, who has lived in Equatorial Guinea since fleeing in 2017, faces serious allegations of rape, torture, and extrajudicial killings during his 22-year rule.

He also named Fatoumatta Jahumpa Ceesay, Gambia’s ambassador to South Africa, as someone who previously sought to visit him. “They’ve all tried it,” he said. “I told [Colley] I won’t allow the visit because it would ruin both her reputation and mine.”

Jammeh criticised Colley—who recently defected from his APRC party to President Adama Barrow’s NPP—accusing her of ignoring repeated warnings against aligning with the current government.

He also repeated his long-standing claim that the Barrow administration is conspiring with Senegal to “steal Gambian oil,” a charge the government has consistently denied as baseless.

By Adama Makasuba