Gambia power cut protests draw police tear gas near Banjul

Thousands of people staged fresh protests near the Gambian capital overnight Wednesday to Thursday over prolonged power cuts, and police used tear gas at several locations, AFP reported.

The demonstrations marked the second night this week that people had taken to the streets over blackouts that have affected residents since June. Protesters gathered in crowds of hundreds in several municipalities, including Sukuta near Banjul and Manduar.

Local media and social media posts described youths lighting fires at major junctions. Residents also blocked smaller roads overnight in Kerr Serign and Jambur, on the outskirts of Banjul.

Ousainou Jallow, a protester from Bakau, told AFP that the city had no water for 24 hours before the demonstration. He said protesters were forced to disperse when paramilitary police used tear gas.

The power cuts have come during the hot season and have lasted up to 48 hours in some areas, causing spoiled food, closed shops and sleepless nights. In the fishing communities of Tanji and Tujereng, residents said a lack of ice was ruining catches and hurting livelihoods.

President Adama Barrow pledged on Tuesday to boost power supplies by next month. He said the government was in the final stage of installing a new 24-megawatt generation machine at the Brikama power plant and that plans were also in place for a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Soma.

The protests come months before December elections, in which Barrow intends to run for a third term. The National Water and Electricity Company said in mid-August that the blackouts were caused by rising demand, mainly because of high temperatures, and constraints on electricity imports.