Gambian President Adama Barrow Pledges Urgent Energy Fix After Protests Erupt Over Power Outages

Gambian President Adama Barrow has pledged to boost energy supplies by next month in an effort to quell violent protests over prolonged power outages, as he campaigns for re-election.

Demonstrators recently burned tyres and built barricades to block traffic in The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, and nearby cities, demanding the resignation of President Adama Barrow. In response, police deployed tear gas to disperse crowds gathered near the residence of President Adama Barrow and the National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC) headquarters.

During a visit to a NAWEC power station, President Adama Barrow declared the outages an emergency and a national security issue. In a national address, he announced that the government will install a 24-megawatt generation machine by the end of October to alleviate the crisis.

"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 stated, addressing the severe rolling blackouts that have lasted up to 48 hours in some areas during the hot season.

Additionally, President Adama Barrow announced plans for a new 50-megawatt solar power plant that is scheduled to begin construction soon. NAWEC Managing Director Gallo attributed the prolonged electricity cuts partly to climate change and the US-Israel war on Iran, while NAWEC previously cited an unforeseen surge in demand driven by high temperatures.

The power crisis unfolds just months ahead of the December presidential election, in which President Adama Barrow is seeking a third term.