Gambia President urges calm, vows power boost after violent blackout protests

Gambia's President Adama Barrow has called for citizens to remain peaceful amidst violent protests sparked by daily power outages. Addressing the populace in a televised address, Barrow highlighted that the nation is not alone in its electricity crisis, which has affected various parts of West Africa. The unrest escalated as demonstrators in capital Banjul and the town of Farato vandalized infrastructure, including the National Water and Electricity Company headquarters and the vice-president's residence.

Chants for political change rang out across the country, while police responded with tear gas to quell the crowds around the Westfield district. Barrow's administration acknowledged the widespread hardship and admitted to planning and maintenance failures contributing to the crisis. The president declared the power outages a national security emergency, warning against violent retaliation.

He assured citizens, "When you lie down in the heat and the dark, believe that you are not alone in that darkness." To tackle the energy deficit, officials outlined plans to add new power capacity, including a twenty-four-megawatt generator at Brikama and a fifty-megawatt solar plant in Soma. However, regional power supply issues stemming from lower water levels and technical faults in import lines from Senegal and Guinea exacerbate the domestic shortfall.

Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay offered a formal government apology, stating that leaders were working fervently to restore stability. The electricity crisis occurs ahead of the December presidential election, with incumbent Barrow seeking a third term. The handling of basic public services like electricity has become the central test for voters, as residents grapple with the continuous lack of power and heavy-handed security responses.