Protesters took to the streets in several parts of The Gambia overnight, burning tyres and erecting barricades to denounce prolonged electricity outages that have disrupted households, businesses and essential services.
Demonstrations were reported in Banjul and other parts of the Greater Banjul Area, including Westfield and Farato. In the capital, protesters gathered near President Adama Barrow’s official residence, while demonstrators in Farato reportedly targeted the residence of Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow and vandalised an office of the ruling National People’s Party.
Police used tear gas to disperse some of the protesters as tensions escalated. By Tuesday morning, calm had returned to Banjul and traffic had resumed, although the underlying frustration over electricity supply remained.
The demonstrations followed blackouts that residents said had lasted as long as 48 hours in some areas. Protesters chanted against the government and demanded an improvement in electricity supply, with some calling for President Barrow to leave office.
The National Water and Electricity Company, NAWEC, attributed the latest disruptions to a sharp increase in electricity demand linked to hot weather and a technical problem affecting one of its generating units. The utility announced load shedding but did not give a specific timeline for the restoration of normal supply.
The latest unrest follows months of public concern over electricity reliability. NAWEC has previously cited maintenance difficulties, equipment rehabilitation and shortages of imported spare parts among the challenges affecting generation capacity.
In June, the utility introduced a temporary emergency power arrangement providing up to 70 megawatts of additional capacity during peak demand periods. NAWEC said the measure was intended to stabilise supply while regional electricity availability improved and additional generation capacity became available.
Civil society groups have also criticised the government’s handling of the electricity crisis. In June, Gambians Against Looted Assets gave NAWEC a 10 day ultimatum to restore reliable electricity and water services, arguing that prolonged outages were imposing significant costs on households, businesses and essential services.
The electricity crisis has become increasingly significant ahead of The Gambia’s presidential election scheduled for December. President Barrow is seeking a third term, making public dissatisfaction over basic services a potentially important issue in the campaign.
The government has defended its investment in the energy sector while acknowledging continuing technical challenges. Earlier this year, it said temporary disruptions should be viewed in the context of ongoing efforts to strengthen electricity supply and urged citizens to rely on official information.
For The Gambia, the protests highlight the broader economic and social consequences of unreliable electricity. Extended outages can increase operating costs for businesses, disrupt education and healthcare and reduce household productivity, particularly where communities have limited access to alternative power sources.
The immediate challenge for NAWEC and the government is to restore reliable supply while addressing the underlying weaknesses in generation, maintenance and electricity infrastructure. Failure to resolve the problem could further intensify public frustration as the country approaches the December election.
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