Gambia bans protests without permits
The move follows days of unrest over persistent electricity blackouts.
The Gambia has imposed a ban on protests without permits following a series of recent unrests triggered by persistent electricity blackouts. This decision, which involved police firing tear gas at demonstrators, comes as the country prepares for the December general election, where President Adama Barrow plans to run for a third term, a move that is considered controversial.
The electricity issues in Gambia have intensified over recent weeks, primarily due to a shortage of imports from neighboring Senegal, reportedly due to unpaid electricity bills, and Guinea, which is also facing its own blackouts caused by a drought impacting hydropower stations. The deal with Turkish floating power plant company Karpowership, which previously provided 40% of the country's power, lapsed last year.
The unrest in Gambia is part of a broader pattern of youth-led political protests across the continent, which have been sparked by living conditions and allegations of corruption. Last year, demonstrations in Madagascar led to the downfall of the government, while Tanzania's crackdown on election protesters resulted in an estimated 1,000 deaths.
Written by urgent.news from Semafor's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
