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Gambian President Adama Barrow promised on Tuesday to rapidly expand the national electricity supply by late October following violent overnight demonstrations against widespread rolling blackouts.
Demonstrators in Banjul and surrounding cities set fires, blocked traffic, and clashed with police who fired tear gas near the National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC) headquarters.
Addressing the crisis during a site visit to the Brikama power station, Barrow labelled the prolonged power outages a national security emergency and committed to swift government action.
To address the severe shortfalls, Barrow announced that engineers are finalising the installation of a new 24-megawatt generation unit set for commissioning by the end of October 2026.
He also confirmed the award of a contract for a 50-megawatt solar power facility in Soma to provide long-term energy stability.
The president emphasised that these infrastructure upgrades will significantly increase generating capacity and alleviate the unbearable heat and daily disruptions affecting households across the country.
The unrest escalates political pressure on Barrow just months before he seeks a third presidential term in December.
NAWEC officials attributed the persistent outages—which have lasted up to 48 hours in some regions since June—to surging seasonal demand, extreme temperatures, foreign power import constraints, and broader global economic disruptions.
Despite public anger, government ministers assured citizens that authorities are working urgently to restore reliable grid operations before the end of next month.
