Violent protests over rolling blackouts in The Gambia as Barrow pledges new power capacity
Violent protests have broken out in The Gambia over prolonged electricity outages, with demonstrations reported in the capital, Banjul, and nearby cities on Monday and Tuesday. Residents have been demanding action over rolling blackouts that have left some areas without power for up to 48 hours. The unrest has centred on the country's worsening electricity crisis and the public response to it.
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Police used tear gas to disperse crowds that gathered in several locations, including near President Adama Barrow's residence and the headquarters of the National Water and Electricity Corporation, which supplies electricity in the country. Protesters burned tyres and built barricades that blocked traffic, while some called for Barrow to resign. The president said the outages had become an emergency and described them as a national security issue during a visit to a power station.
In a national address, Barrow said the government would install a 24-megawatt generation machine by the end of October. He also announced plans for an additional 50-megawatt solar power plant, which he said would begin construction soon. The pledges were presented as part of an effort to increase energy supplies next month and calm public anger over the blackouts.
The protests come at a sensitive political moment, with the December presidential election approaching and Barrow seeking a third term. The electricity cuts have affected daily life during the hot season, with the president saying that fans have stopped turning, children are working in the dark, and food is being thrown away because it has gone stale. The crisis has therefore become both a public service failure and a political test for the government.
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The National Water and Electricity Corporation said in an August statement that it was facing an unforeseen surge in demand because of high temperatures. Its managing director, Gallo, also linked the prolonged cuts to climate change and the US-Israel war on Iran. Those explanations have not eased public frustration, and the protests suggest that the power shortage has become a broader issue of trust in state management.
What remains unclear is whether the promised generation capacity will be delivered on schedule and whether it will be enough to reduce the outages quickly. It is also not yet clear how long the protests will continue or whether further unrest will spread beyond the areas already affected. The coming weeks are likely to show whether the government's response can restore supply and calm tensions before the election.
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