The Gambia has experienced prolonged electricity shortages since June, with outages becoming increasingly frequent and lengthy as rising temperatures during the hot season have driven demand higher. The West African nation relies on a combination of domestic generation and imported power from neighboring countries, including Guinea and Senegal, to meet its electricity needs.
Frustration over the crisis reached a breaking point on Monday night when residents took to the streets in the capital Banjul and surrounding areas. Protesters burned tires, blocked roads, and chanted slogans demanding political change. Police responded by deploying tear gas to disperse crowds in the Westfield area as demonstrators moved toward the headquarters of the national electricity company, Nawec. The unrest also included damage to banners at an office of the ruling National People’s Party and gatherings outside the vice-president’s residence.
In a televised address the following evening, President Barrow acknowledged the severe hardship caused by the blackouts while cautioning against further destruction of infrastructure. He described the situation as both a national security issue and an emergency, admitting that government shortcomings in planning, power generation, and maintenance had contributed to the problem. The president pledged that electricity supplies would improve by the end of next month.
To address the crisis, authorities announced that a new 24-megawatt generating unit is being installed at the Brikama power station and would be operational by the end of next month. Additionally, a contract has been awarded for a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Soma, though no timeline for completion was specified. Nawec’s leadership appealed for public patience, citing reduced electricity imports from the regional grid due to lower rainfall this year as a contributing factor to the shortages.
The unrest occurs several months ahead of a presidential election expected in December, in which Barrow is seeking a third term.
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