Gambian leader Barrow pledged on Tuesday to end rolling blackouts by investing in new power infrastructure, naming a 24-megawatt generation plant among measures intended to tackle the country’s worsening electricity shortages. The announcement came as protests over persistent outages grew heated and at times turned violent.
The demonstrations have reflected mounting public frustration with repeated power cuts that have affected homes, businesses and public services. Authorities said the president’s pledge is aimed at restoring regular supply and easing pressure on communities that have borne the brunt of intermittent electricity.
Barrow outlined a programme of infrastructure investment to increase generation capacity, highlighting the 24-megawatt plant as a key component. Officials framed the initiative as a direct response to the crisis, intended to reduce the need for scheduled load-shedding and improve reliability across the national grid.
Analysts and observers say delivering new generation and upgrading distribution networks will be central to stabilising supply, but the government will face logistical, financial and time-related challenges in implementing large-scale power projects. For now, Barrow’s pledge represents a political effort to reassure citizens and curb unrest while officials pursue technical solutions to the electricity shortfalls.