‘Barrow Must Go’: Gambia Erupts As Power Crisis Triggers Angry Street Protests
The Gambia has been rocked by angry protests over prolonged electricity blackouts, with residents taking to the streets and chanting “Barrow must go” as frustration over the worsening power crisis spills into open unrest.
Protests erupted across parts of the capital, Banjul, and surrounding areas after some residents endured power cuts lasting up to 48 hours. Demonstrators burned tyres and erected road barricades, while police used tear gas to disperse crowds.
In Farato, protesters gathered near the residence of Vice-President Mohammed B.S. Jallow, while banners belonging to President Adama Barrow’s ruling National People’s Party were damaged.
The unrest comes just months before a presidential election expected in December, in which Barrow is seeking a third term.
Addressing the nation, Barrow acknowledged the severe hardship caused by the outages, saying families were struggling with extreme heat, children were working in darkness and food was being lost because refrigerators could not operate.
The president described the electricity situation as an emergency and a national security issue, while appealing to citizens not to destroy public infrastructure during protests.
Barrow promised that electricity supplies would improve by the end of October, saying new generators were expected and an additional 24-megawatt generating unit was being installed at the Brikama power station.
The government has also awarded a contract for a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Soma as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s electricity supply.
The National Water and Electricity Company has blamed a combination of soaring temperatures, record electricity demand, technical problems and reduced power availability from regional sources for the worsening shortages.
The Gambia relies partly on imported electricity, including supplies from neighbouring Senegal and Guinea.
The protests have intensified pressure on Barrow’s government as the country heads towards another presidential election, turning the electricity crisis into a potentially significant political issue.