The Gambia president calls for calm following blackout protests

On Sep 9, 2026

President of The Gambia Adama Barrow is calling upon citizens to remain calm over prolonged power cuts, indicating that his nation is not alone in facing an electricity crisis that has affected multiple parts of West Africa.

Barrow’s words come after protests on Monday night in the capital Banjul and nearby areas over blackouts that citizens say have sometimes lasted up to 48 hours.

“When you lie down in the heat and the dark, believe that you are not alone in that darkness,” said Barrow, promising better flow of power by October.

The Gambia relies partly on imported electricity from neighboring Senegal and Guinea to supplement domestic generation.

However, supplies have struggled to keep pace with rising demand, particularly during the current hot season when soaring temperatures are pushing electricity consumption higher.

It was on Monday night that the situation reached a flashpoint as frustrated residents took to the streets in Banjul and surrounding areas. Protesters burned tires and blocked roads, voicing their anger over increasingly frequent and lengthy power cuts that have plagued the country since June.

During the protests, police reportedly used tear gas to disperse crowds in the Westfield area as they moved towards the headquarters of the national electricity company, Nawec, with some chanting. “Barrow must go”.

Also, protesters gathered right outside the vice-president’s residence in Farato, where banners at an office of Barrow’s ruling National People’s Party were destroyed.

The unrest comes just months before a presidential election expected in December, in which President Barrow is seeking a controversial third term.

In a televised address on Tuesday night, Barrow acknowledged the hardship caused by the prolonged blackouts but warned protesters against damaging public infrastructure, arguing that such actions would only deepen the disruption and force the government to divert funds towards repairs.

“Let us not destroy in a moment of anger what we suffered so long to gain,” he said.

President Adama Barrow also acknowledged shortcomings in the government’s planning, electricity generation and maintenance systems, describing the resulting power outages as both a “national security issue” and an “emergency”.

He acknowledged the toll of the outages, stating that families were struggling through sweltering conditions and dealing with food spoiling as the power cuts persisted.

“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,” he said, while promising that electricity supplies would improve by the end of October.

The president said installation was underway on a new 24-megawatt generating unit at the Brikama power station, which is expected to be commissioned by the end of next month in The Gambia.

Meanwhile, a contract has been awarded for a 50MW solar power plant in Soma, though authorities have not provided a completion date.

“For a system of our size, this is considerable power, enough to make a big difference in your homes,” Barrow added.

Credit: Source link