Key Points:
• Police fired tear gas as protesters demonstrated over prolonged electricity shortages.
• Demonstrators burned tyres and erected barricades in parts of Banjul and other locations.
• President Adama Barrow promised new generators and additional generation capacity to address the crisis.
Main Story
Protests have erupted across The Gambia over prolonged electricity shortages, with police using tear gas to disperse demonstrators in and around the capital, Banjul.
Residents and a Reuters witness said protesters gathered overnight at several locations, including near President Adama Barrow’s official residence.
Demonstrators burned tyres, blocked roads and shouted “Barrow must go!” as frustration over electricity outages intensified.
Residents in some areas have reported blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, adding pressure on the government ahead of a presidential election expected in December, in which Barrow is seeking a third term.
The protests also spread beyond the capital. In Farato, demonstrators gathered outside the residence of Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow and destroyed banners at an office belonging to the ruling National People’s Party.
Barrow acknowledged the hardship caused by the outages in a televised address on Tuesday.
He said electricity demand had reached record levels, while failures at major generating units and seasonal reductions in hydropower production had worsened the situation.
Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay described the protests as “deeply disconcerting” and apologised to people affected by the electricity shortages.
He said the government recognised the frustration and hardship caused by the outages and was working to restore a reliable electricity supply.
Barrow, who visited facilities operated by the National Water and Electricity Company Ltd, NAWEC, on Tuesday, said new generators would arrive during the week and that electricity supply would be restored by the end of October.
He also said the government was completing the installation of an additional 24 megawatt generation machine and had awarded a contract for a 50 megawatt solar power plant.
NAWEC had earlier attributed the power crisis to an unexpected increase in electricity demand during the peak period, which it linked to high temperatures.
The utility also reported a technical incident involving one of its major power generating units and warned that load shedding would affect several parts of the country.
Ousainu Jammeh, a resident of Westfield in Banjul, said the outages had caused widespread frustration among residents.
He said he joined the protesters after tear gas entered his home.
The demonstrations had subsided by the early morning, after which Jammeh joined other young men who helped extinguish fires and remove barricades from the streets.
Traffic in Banjul had returned to normal by Tuesday morning.
The Issues
The electricity crisis has become a source of public frustration, with residents reporting prolonged outages during a period of high temperatures.
The situation also places pressure on the government ahead of the December presidential election, while failures at major generating units and increased demand have complicated efforts to maintain supply.
What’s Being Said
“I know that the fans have stopped turning, children work in the dark, mothers throw away stale food, and the heat is unbearable by day and by night,” – President Adama Barrow
“As a government, we recognise the frustration, anger and hardship that many Gambians are experiencing,” – Ismaila Ceesay, Gambia’s Information Minister
“There is no light everywhere. There is no light. People have been crying about electricity,” – Ousainu Jammeh, Banjul resident
What’s Next
Barrow said new generators would arrive this week, while the government expects to restore electricity supply by the end of October.
The government is also completing an additional 24 megawatt generation machine and has awarded a contract for a 50 megawatt solar power plant.
Bottom Line
Prolonged electricity shortages have triggered protests across The Gambia, increasing pressure on President Barrow’s government ahead of the presidential election. The government says additional generation capacity and new generators will help restore supply.
