Gambia: Police bans unpermitted protests following power cut demonstrations

The Gambian police announced on Thursday evening, September 10, in Banjul, that no new protests would be permitted without a permit, following several nights of demonstrations triggered by power outages affecting the country. Police Chief Seedy Mukhtar Touray warned that any gathering organized without authorization would be dispersed.

This decision comes after protests in the capital and several areas of the Greater Banjul region. Demonstrators condemned power cuts that have sometimes lasted up to 48 hours. The police used tear gas during some gatherings, while acts of vandalism were reported against a police station and facilities of the state-owned electricity company NAWEC.

According to Seedy Mukhtar Touray, eleven people have been arrested in connection with investigations into the violence and damage that occurred during the unrest. The police chief acknowledged citizens’ right to express their grievances, while asserting that protests must comply with the procedures outlined by Gambian law.

This new security stance comes less than three months before the presidential election scheduled for December. President Adama Barrow, who is running for a third term, faces increasing dissent regarding the quality of electricity supply and, more broadly, living conditions.

Kanifing Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, who plans to challenge Adama Barrow in the presidential election, stated that he understands the anger of the protesters, while also condemning the violence. He specifically criticized the country’s reliance on energy imports, which he deems too vulnerable to external shocks.

The government promises improvements by the end of October.

In a national address on September 8, Adama Barrow acknowledged shortcomings in the planning, production, and maintenance of the electricity sector. He announced the installation of an additional 24-megawatt unit at the Brikama power plant, which is expected to be operational by the end of October.

The head of state also confirmed the awarding of a contract for a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Soma and the establishment of a presidential task force on electricity, tasked with providing a situation report every two weeks. The government claims it aims for a significant improvement in electricity supply before the end of October.

The power cuts have taken on a political dimension since the beginning of the week, following the spread of gatherings in Banjul, Westfield, Brikama, and other areas of Greater Banjul. The government aims for a significant improvement in electricity supply before the end of October.