Protesters took to the streets in The Gambia's capital, Banjul, and its largest city, Kanifing, on Monday evening, demonstrating against persistent power outages and demanding President Adama Barrow's resignation. The demonstrations saw participants march toward State House, the presidential residence, while chanting "Barrow must go." Demonstrators also burned tyres in the streets, showing their discontent with the ongoing electricity crisis that has severely disrupted daily life and economic activities. The protests occurred as residents across the country have faced increasingly frequent and prolonged power cuts, impacting daily life and businesses. The widespread public outcry notes a growing frustration with the government's handling of the nation's critical infrastructure.
The demonstrations, which began in the urban centers of Banjul and Kanifing, quickly gained momentum and spread to other key areas. Reports confirmed that protests also spread to Brikama and Brufut in the West Coast Region, indicating the depth and breadth of public discontent beyond the immediate capital area. These gatherings saw citizens expressing their anger over the unreliable power supply, which has become a significant impediment to both household routines and commercial operations. The chants of "Barrow must go" resonated through the streets, signaling a direct challenge to the current administration amidst the deepening crisis. The burning of tyres, a common form of protest in the region, further emphasized the intensity of the public's dissatisfaction and their demand for immediate action.
Deepening Electricity Crisis
The country has experienced hot weather since June, contributing significantly to the strain on the national electricity grid. This year, high temperatures and low rainfall have limited hydroelectric power exports from neighboring Guinea, further exacerbating The Gambia's energy challenges. The reduced availability of external power sources has placed additional pressure on an already struggling domestic supply system. At its peak consumption this year, The Gambia required an estimated 100 to 110 megawatts of electricity to meet the demands of its population and industries. This figure represents the critical threshold the national grid must meet to avoid widespread outages.
However, the nation's current capacity falls short of this requirement. The World Bank reports that the nation possesses approximately 90 megawatts of installed generation capacity. This installed capacity, while substantial, is often not fully operational due to various technical and maintenance issues. Contributing to this capacity, the National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) had previously relied on a Turkish floating power plant, Karpowership, for about 30 megawatts of its supply. The reliance on external sources and the domestic generation capacity illustrate the significant shortfall faced during periods of high demand, making the country vulnerable to supply disruptions. The gap between the required peak consumption and the available generation capacity shows the systemic challenges facing The Gambia's energy sector.
Government Response and Future Plans
The impact of this energy deficit has been severe and widespread. Daily power cuts have persisted, lasting between 16 and 18 hours, and sometimes extending to 20 hours. On occasion, these outages have stretched for 24, 36, or even 48 hours, bringing economic activity to a standstill and severely disrupting daily life for millions of Gambians. Businesses, households, and public services have all been gravely affected by the unpredictable and prolonged periods without electricity. The sheer duration of these blackouts has fueled public anger and intensified calls for immediate government intervention and long-term solutions.
In response to the escalating public outcry and the widespread protests, President Adama Barrow visited two major power plants on Tuesday. The presidential visit aimed to assess the situation firsthand and reassure the public of the government's commitment to resolving the crisis. During his visit, President Barrow acknowledged the severity of the problem and promised that the electricity situation would improve or be resolved by the end of October 2026. This timeline, however, has been met with skepticism by some, given the immediate and pressing nature of the crisis.
The government is addressing the crisis through planned infrastructure improvements. As part of its strategy, the government is installing an additional twenty-four (24) megawatts generation machine at the Brikama Power Station. This new machine is expected to significantly boost the country's domestic generation capacity and reduce reliance on external sources. However, the commissioning of this key new infrastructure is also slated for the end of October 2026, aligning with President Barrow's broader timeline for resolution. This long-term approach indicates that immediate relief from the severe power cuts may not be forthcoming, further testing the patience of the populace. The current electricity challenges are not entirely new to The Gambia; blackouts and unstable electricity supply were also a persistent problem under former dictator Yahya Jammeh's administration, noting a long-standing national infrastructure issue.
Public Frustration and Systemic Challenges
The widespread discontent over power outages expanded beyond the capital, with protests also spreading to Brikama and Brufut in the West Coast Region, demonstrating a national sentiment of frustration. The demonstrations come at a politically sensitive time, as President Adama Barrow is seeking a third term in December's election, adding significant political pressure to the ongoing crisis. The public's perception of his administration's ability to deliver basic services like electricity could heavily influence the upcoming polls.
The Gambia's electricity challenges are compounded by systemic issues that have plagued the sector for years. In 2025, approximately 75 percent of the country's electricity consumption was imported from Senegal. This heavy reliance on a single external source makes the nation vulnerable to supply fluctuations and geopolitical factors affecting its neighbor. Such dependence shows the urgent need for increased domestic generation capacity and diversification of energy sources.
The operational availability of installed generation capacity within The Gambia is often below 50 percent, according to reports. This low operational efficiency means that even the existing 90 megawatts of installed capacity cannot be fully utilized consistently. Factors contributing to this inefficiency include aging infrastructure, inadequate maintenance, and technical faults, all of which exacerbate the nation's reliance on external power sources and limit its ability to meet domestic demand. The gap between installed capacity and actual operational output is a critical bottleneck in the country's energy supply.
Adding to the supply challenges, the deal with Karpowership, which had supplied about 30 megawatts to NAWEC, was not renewed in 2025 due to rising costs. The termination of this contract removed a significant portion of the country's available power generation, directly contributing to the current severe outages. The decision not to renew the contract, while potentially driven by financial considerations, has had immediate and drastic consequences for the national power supply. The protests reflect a growing public frustration with the persistent electricity shortages and their profound impact on daily life and economic activity across the country, signaling a critical period for President Barrow's administration.
