Full Breakdown
Rolling Blackouts Trigger Violent Protests in The Gambia
9/9/2026, 3:48:49 PM
Background and Scope of the Crisis
Since June 2026 The Gambia has endured persistent electricity shortages that intensify during the hot season. Outages have sometimes lasted up to 48 hours, prompting residents to complain of stopped fans, spoiled food and unbearable heat. The national grid relies on a mix of domestic generation and imports from Guinea and Senegal, and a technical fault in a major generating unit compounded the strain.
Government and Utility Responses
President Adama Barrow addressed the nation, labeling the blackouts an “emergency” and a “national security issue.” He pledged to boost supplies by the end of the next month and warned that damaging infrastructure would worsen the situation. Gallo Saidy, managing director of the National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC), asked the public for patience, citing reduced electricity imports from the regional grid and lower rainfall as contributing factors. In an Al Jazeera report, NAWEC’s managing director also linked the prolonged cuts to climate change and the broader “US-Israel war on Iran.”
Data and Planned Infrastructure
The government announced the installation of a 24-megawatt (MW) generating unit at the Brikama power station, slated for commissioning by the end of October. A separate contract awards a 50 MW solar power plant in Soma, though no completion date was provided.
Verbatim Quotes
- “When you lie down in the heat and the dark, believe that you are not alone in that darkness,” — Adama Barrow, the gambia's president
- “For a system of our size, this is considerable power, enough to make a big difference in your homes,” — Adama Barrow, the gambia's president
These statements encapsulate the administration’s appeal for calm and its promise of tangible capacity upgrades as the country heads toward a December presidential election in which Barrow seeks a third term.
