Gambian leader pledges halt to rolling blackouts as protests turn violent

What the report says

Gambian President Adama Barrow has promised new power projects and faster electricity relief after days of violent protests over prolonged blackouts, according to Al Jazeera. The unrest broke out in Banjul and nearby areas on Monday and Tuesday, where demonstrators burned tyres, set up barricades and demanded Barrow’s resignation. Police responded with tear gas near the presidential residence and the headquarters of the National Water and Electricity Corporation, the state utility responsible for power supply.

In a national address and a visit to a NAWEC power station, Barrow said the outages had become an emergency and a national security issue. He said the government would add a 24-megawatt generation unit by the end of October and move ahead with a separate 50-megawatt solar plant. The president framed the measures as a response to the country’s worsening electricity crisis, which has brought rolling cuts lasting up to 48 hours in some places during the hot season.

The article places the crisis in a politically sensitive moment, with a presidential election due in December and Barrow seeking a third term. Al Jazeera reported that the blackouts have affected daily life, disrupting cooling, food storage and basic comfort in homes. NAWEC said in an earlier statement that high temperatures and increased demand were contributing to the shortage, though those explanations have not resolved public anger.