Gambia bans unauthorized protests following electricity crisis unrest

Gambia’s police chief has announced a ban on protests without approved permits following unrest triggered by prolonged electricity shortages. Inspector General of Police Seedy Mukhtar Touray stated that no one is allowed to converge or cause havoc without authorization, warning that violations will be met with “necessary force.”

The unrest, which saw authorities use tear gas to disperse crowds, resulted in the vandalism of a police post and attacks on the National Water and Electricity Company Ltd (NAWEC). NAWEC reported that three branches were closed after infrastructure and office equipment were severely damaged. Eleven people have been arrested in connection with the vandalism.

The electricity crisis, which NAWEC attributes to an unforeseen surge in demand during high temperatures, has fueled public frustration ahead of the December 2026 presidential elections. The Gambia Action Party (GAP) has called for calm, urging citizens to avoid destroying property and to seek political change through the “ballot box” rather than violence.

Opposition figures, including Kanifing Municipality Mayor Talib Ahmed Bensouda, noted that the heat and inability to conduct business without power have forced citizens into the streets, though they do not support the violence.