Fresh protests hit Gambia over power cuts
Thousands of people staged fresh protests near the Gambian capital overnight from Wednesday to Thursday over gruelling power cuts, with police tear-gassing demonstrators at several locations, sources and local media reported. The chaotic scenes marked the second night this week that demonstrators have taken to the streets of the tiny West African nation, where prolonged […]
On Wednesday night, thousands of Ghanians took to the streets near Banjul, the capital, in protest over frequent power outages, according to local sources and media reports. The demonstrations marked the second night of unrest in less than a week, as residents have endured prolonged electricity cuts since June. Police in several locations, including Bakau, Tanji, and Tujereng, deployed tear gas to disperse demonstrators, leading to chaotic scenes and widespread unrest.
In response, President Adama Barrow pledged to improve power supplies by the following month, stating that the government was in the final stages of installing a new 24-megawatt generator at the Brikama power plant and planning a 50-megawatt solar plant in Soma. However, the protests have escalated tensions ahead of the December elections, where Barrow aims for a third term.
The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) blamed the recent blackouts on surges in demand due to high temperatures and constraints on electricity imports, attributing part of the issue to climate change and the ongoing war in the Middle East.
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