Gambian President urges calm amid protests over power outages
President Adama Barrow has called for calm as protests erupt over severe power cuts lasting up to 48 hours. He promised improvements in energy supply by next month to alleviate the crisis.
Sources
The Gambia's President Adama Barrow has called for calm amid severe power cuts affecting the country, which have led to protests as blackouts last up to 48 hours. He acknowledged shortcomings in the government's power management and pledged to improve electricity supplies by the end of October, including the installation of a new 24-megawatt generating unit and the development of a 50MW solar power plant. The ongoing electricity crisis has been exacerbated by reduced imports from the regional grid and increased electricity demand due to soaring temperatures.
Gambian President Adama Barrow stated the country will enhance energy supplies by next month to address violent protests over prolonged power outages, which have spurred calls for his resignation. The government plans to install a 24-megawatt generation machine by the end of October and construct an additional 50-megawatt solar power plant, as outages have lasted up to 48 hours during the hot season and are attributed to climate change and increased demand. Barrow, who is seeking re-election in December, described the blackouts as a national security issue and acknowledged their impact on daily life.