{
  "id": 6432668,
  "title": "The Gambia needs light now, and I am ready to lead the solution – Prince Ebrahim Sanyang",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/09/the-gambia-needs-light-now-and-i-am-ready-to-lead-the-solution-prince",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-09T15:08:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MyJoyOnline Ghana",
    "slug": "myjoyonline-ghana",
    "url": "https://www.myjoyonline.com/the-gambia-needs-light-now-and-i-am-ready-to-lead-the-solution-prince-ebrahim-sanyang/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Across the Gambia, spontaneous candlelight protests have erupted, demanding answers to the country's persistent electricity crisis. In a statement, Prince Ebrahim Sanyang, founder and party leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) in The Gambia, has come forward to address the issue. Sanyang emphasizes his commitment to resolving the energy challenges faced by Gambians, stating that their demand for light is both legitimate and urgent.\n\nSanyang argues that the current electricity situation is far beyond a mere operational issue at NAWEC, the national power utility. He asserts that it has evolved into a crisis impacting national productivity, public confidence, economic security, and leadership. He warns that merely restoring power temporarily after protests does not solve the underlying systemic problems.\n\nAccording to Sanyang, NAWEC's institutional weaknesses and the absence of sustainable generation, transmission, and management capacity have serious economic and political consequences. He asserts that the current demonstrations confirm the need for immediate action, which he claims he has the experience and international relationships to provide. He points to his role in facilitating high-level diplomatic and commercial engagements with TBEA, a global electricity transmission company, and Chinese stakeholders, resulting in significant contracts for Gambia's electricity infrastructure.\n\nSanyang emphasizes his readiness to work immediately with President Barrow, the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, NAWEC, PURA, development partners, and independent energy specialists to formulate a credible emergency electricity-stabilisation programme. He promises to help deliver permanent solutions within four weeks, stating that no one should have to wait until election day for him to contribute.",
  "summary": "Spontaneous candlelight protests have spread over the past 24 hours from Banjul to communities across the Greater Banjul Area and the West Coast Region. Across the country, Gambians have taken to the streets with one simple and legitimate demand: “We Need Light Now.” It is a national distress call from families, students, healthcare workers, traders and businesses whose lives and livelihoods are…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}