Barrow pledges new energy infrastructure, together with a 24-megawatt plant, to deal with The Gambia’s worsening electrical energy disaster.
Printed On 9 Sep 2026
Gambian President Adama Barrow has stated the nation will enhance power provides by subsequent month, hoping to quell violent protests over extended energy outages because the premier stands for re-election.
Protesters burned tyres and constructed barricades blocking site visitors, demanding that Barrow resign, in The Gambia’s capital, Banjul, and close by cities on Monday and Tuesday.
Police used tear fuel to disperse crowds who gathered in a number of areas, together with close to Barrow’s residence and the Nationwide Water and Electrical energy Company (NAWEC) headquarters, which provides the nation’s electrical energy.
Barrow declared the outages an emergency and a “nationwide safety concern” throughout a go to to a NAWEC energy station. In a nationwide tackle, he introduced that the federal government would set up a 24-megawatt era machine by the top of October.
“I do know that the followers have stopped turning, kids work at nighttime, moms throw away stale meals, and the warmth is insufferable by day and by evening,” Barrow stated.
The rolling blackouts are happening throughout the West African nation’s scorching season and have lasted as much as 48 hours in some locations.
The Gambian president additionally introduced a further 50-megawatt solar energy plant that will start building quickly.
NAWEC Managing Director Gallo stated the extended electrical energy cuts had been partially as a consequence of local weather change and the US-Israel struggle on Iran. The electrical energy supplier, in a press release launched in August, additionally claimed that it was experiencing an “unexpected surge” in demand as a consequence of excessive temperatures.
The blackouts come simply months forward of the December presidential election, wherein Barrow is operating for a third term.
