President Barrow Promises Relief by October as Protests Over Power Crisis Mount

By Dawda Baldeh

President Adama Barrow has addressed the nation following widespread public protests over severe power cuts across the Greater Banjul Area, promising that The Gambia’s electricity supply will improve by the end of October 2026.

Addressing citizens in a national broadcast after demonstrator-led street protests against prolonged blackouts, President Barrow acknowledged the public anger and severe domestic disruption caused by the outages.

“I know that the fans have stopped turning, children work in the dark, mothers throw away stale food, and the heat is unbearable by day and by night,” Barrow said, adding that he understood the frustration of citizens. “I have not rested in searching for solutions, day and night, with my Ministers, with the Management of NAWEC, and with our partners here and abroad.”

Attributing part of the shortfall to regional generation pressures, high demand, and reduced hydropower output through the Gambia River Basin Development Organisation (OMVG), President Barrow also conceded internal systemic failures.

“Demand for electricity is at record level, major generating units are failing together, and seasonal conditions are cutting down what our hydropower can produce through the OMVG,” he said. “I must admit the shortcomings in our planning, power generation, and maintenance systems.”

To address the shortfall, the president confirmed the installation of an additional 24-megawatt generator at the Brikama Power Station, due to be commissioned by the end of October, alongside a planned 50-megawatt solar project in Soma. A new Presidential Task Force on Electricity Supply, chaired by the Vice President, will publish bi-weekly updates on progress.

While emphasizing that national power access had expanded from 36 per cent in 2017 to roughly 90 per cent today, President Barrow urged demonstrators to avoid damaging infrastructure, warning that vandalism would exacerbate the crisis.

“You have the right to express your views honestly, but let us not, in our frustration, tear down what we built with our own hands through public funds,” he urged, promising: “I will not promise you what the Government cannot deliver. The electricity supply situation in the country will improve by the end of October 2026.”

Appealing for patience, the president concluded: “Your engineers are awake, the Government is awake, and your President is awake with you. When you lie down in the heat and the dark, believe that you are not alone in that darkness.”