Gambia: President Barrow Power Crisis Sparks Resignation Demands

• Widespread protests have erupted across The Gambia, with citizens demanding President Adama Barrow's resignation due to severe and prolonged electricity blackouts.
• Daily power cuts frequently last 16-18 hours, sometimes extending to 48 hours, causing significant disruption to daily life and businesses.
• President Barrow has appealed for patience, promising resolution by the end of October and announcing a new 24-megawatt generator for commissioning by October 2026.
• The Gambia faces a long-standing energy problem, with 75% of its 2025 electricity consumption projected to be imported from Senegal, and domestic capacity around 90 megaw against peak demand of 100-110 megawatts.
• The crisis fuels political instability ahead of December's general election and poses significant operational and economic risks for businesses and investors.

The escalating power crisis and the resulting civil unrest pose significant challenges for The Gambia's political landscape, particularly with the general election approaching in December.

Widespread protests have erupted across The Gambia, with citizens demanding President Adama Barrow's resignation amid a severe and prolonged electricity crisis. The demonstrations, occurring just months before December's general election, saw residents take to the streets of the capital, Banjul, as well as the country's largest city, Kanifing, and major towns like Brikama and Brufut in the West Coast Region. Protesters marched towards State House, the official residence of President Barrow, carrying candles and chanting "Barrow must go," while some resorted to burning tyres and blocking roads.

This wave of Gambian civil unrest over power cuts has been particularly intense due to the extreme heat experienced since June. Madi Jobarteh, executive director of the Edward Francis Small Centre for Rights and Justice, an NGO, described the protests as largely spontaneous and peaceful, noting that the latest round of power outages had become "totally unbearable." Daily blackouts have routinely lasted between 16 and 18 hours, frequently extending to 20 hours, and occasionally stretching to 24, 36, or even 48 hours. Analyst Sheriff Bojang Junior indicated that the government appeared unprepared for the scale of the public outcry.

In response to the growing unrest, President Adama Barrow and Information Minister Ismaila Ceesay, the government's spokesperson, have attempted to de-escalate the situation. Minister Ceesay acknowledged the "deeply disconcerting" events in a Facebook post, recognizing the "frustration, anger and hardship" caused by the electricity situation. He emphasized electricity's essential role for homes, businesses, hospitals, schools, and the economy, assuring the public that the government is treating the matter with "seriousness and utmost urgency" to restore stability and improve the reliability of the NAWEC power supply Gambia.

President Barrow visited two of the nation's primary power plants on Tuesday, appealing for patience from the populace. He pledged that the power crisis would improve or be resolved by the end of October. As part of this commitment, the government is in the final stages of installing an additional 24-megawatt generation machine at the Brikama Power Station, which is slated for commissioning by the end of October 2026. President Barrow highlighted that this capacity addition is significant for the country's system size and is expected to make a considerable difference.

Despite these assurances, analyst Sheriff Bojang Junior noted that critics perceived little urgency or empathy in President Barrow's televised address. Bojang Junior described the President as struggling through a prepared speech that seemed disconnected from the prevailing public mood, even as Barrow declared the crisis an emergency and promised an end to chronic power cuts by the end of October.

The current Gambia President Barrow power crisis is rooted in long-standing challenges with electricity production. The nation has increasingly relied on imported electricity rather than investing sufficiently in its own generation capabilities. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), approximately 75 percent of The Gambia's electricity consumption in 2025 was projected to be imported from neighboring Senegal.

The national utility, NAWEC (National Water and Electricity Company), reported that The Gambia's peak consumption this year ranged between 100 and 110 megawatts. In contrast, the World Bank notes the country has around 90 megaw, indicating a significant shortfall between demand and domestic capacity. This dependency and insufficient internal production contribute to the chronic instability of the electricity supply.

The escalating power crisis and the resulting civil unrest pose significant challenges for The Gambia's political landscape, particularly with the general election approaching in December. The widespread demands for President Adama Barrow's resignation underscore a growing sentiment of dissatisfaction that could fuel Gambia political instability election outcomes. The government's ability to effectively address the power outages will be crucial in shaping public perception and maintaining social order in the lead-up to the polls.

For businesses and investors operating within The Gambia, the current situation signals heightened operational risks. The severe and unpredictable electricity blackouts can lead to substantial economic losses, disrupt supply chains, and impact productivity across various sectors. Furthermore, the potential for increased political instability and civil unrest could trigger force majeure claims, necessitating a thorough assessment of contractual obligations and business continuity plans. The ongoing power crisis highlights a critical infrastructure vulnerability that could deter future investment and impede economic growth.

Lawyers advising businesses or investors in The Gambia should assess heightened operational risks, potential force majeure claims, and increased political instability due to widespread power outages and civil unrest, particularly in the lead-up to the general election.

Source: Original reporting via RFI