Gambia: Gambian President Declares Power Emergency Amid Protests

What the report says

President Adama Barrow has declared The Gambia’s ongoing electricity shortage a national emergency, according to AllAfrica, as public anger over rolling blackouts grows ahead of the country’s December presidential election. The report says Barrow appealed for calm while acknowledging that power cuts have become a major concern for households and businesses.

AllAfrica reported that protests in Banjul and nearby areas escalated as demonstrators burned tyres, blocked roads and called for Barrow to resign. Some communities were said to have endured outages lasting up to 48 hours during the hot season. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds that had gathered near the president’s residence and the headquarters of the National Water and Electricity Corporation.

Barrow has pledged steps to raise supply, including a 24-megawatt generation unit expected by the end of October and plans for an additional 50-megawatt solar project. The state electricity provider has pointed to high temperatures, climate change and wider regional disruptions as factors behind the crisis. More broadly, power shortages have been affecting parts of West Africa, adding pressure on governments already facing economic and political strain.

The emergency declaration underscores how essential electricity has become in the run-up to a sensitive election period, with the power crisis now intersecting with public dissatisfaction and broader governance concerns.