Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in several parts of Gambia after demonstrations erupted over prolonged electricity cuts, adding to public frustration just months before a presidential election.
Protesters gathered overnight in and around the capital, Banjul, burning tyres and setting up roadblocks as they denounced blackouts that some residents said had lasted as long as 48 hours.
Crowds were heard chanting “Barrow must go” near several locations, including close to President Adama Barrow’s official residence.
The unrest comes ahead of a presidential election expected in December, when Barrow is seeking a third term.
In Farato, demonstrators gathered outside the residence of Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow and tore down banners at an office belonging to the ruling National People’s Party, reflecting growing anger over the government’s handling of the electricity crisis.
In a televised address late Tuesday, Barrow acknowledged the impact of the blackouts on households across the country.
He said families were enduring extreme heat without fans, children were being forced to work in darkness and households were losing food because of disrupted refrigeration.
Barrow blamed record electricity demand, failures at major generating units and seasonal conditions that had reduced hydropower production.
Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay earlier described the protests as “deeply disconcerting” while apologising to residents affected by the outages.
He said the government understood the frustration and hardship caused by the power shortages and was working to stabilise the electricity supply.
Barrow visited facilities operated by the National Water and Electricity Company, or NAWEC, on Tuesday and said new generators were expected to arrive this week.
He also pledged that electricity supplies would be restored by the end of October.
According to Barrow, the government is in the final stages of installing an additional 24-megawatt generation unit and has awarded a contract for a 50-megawatt solar power plant.
Utility cites surge in demand
NAWEC warned on August 15 that it was experiencing what it called an unforeseen surge in electricity demand during peak periods, which it attributed partly to high temperatures.
The utility also reported a technical problem affecting one of its major power-generating units and said load shedding would be required across several parts of the country.
No timetable was given for the outages.
Residents said the continuing blackouts had become increasingly difficult to tolerate.
“There is no light everywhere. There is no light. People have been crying about electricity,” Banjul resident Ousainu Jammeh said.
Jammeh said he joined the demonstrations after tear gas fired by police landed inside his home.
After the protests subsided before dawn, groups of young men helped extinguish burning tyres and remove barricades from the streets.
Traffic in Banjul had returned to normal by Tuesday morning.
The protests underscore the political risks surrounding Gambia’s worsening electricity shortages as Barrow prepares to campaign for another term in December.
