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Gambia political tension over Barrow's third term

Updated 8 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-13 14:07 UTC → 2026-09-13 14:23 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Political tensions in The Gambia continue to escalate as the December 5, 2026, presidential election approaches. While the ruling National People’s Party (NPP) defends President Adama Barrow’s record, international observers have raised alarms regarding the quality of political discourse. Following a pre-election assessment, the National Democratic Institute (NDI) warned that hate speech could intensify ethnic tensions and identity politics. NDI co-leader Linda Thomas-Greenfield noted that while political and media freedoms have improved since 2016, the country requires further constitutional reforms to protect democratic gains. Domestic issues, specifically electricity shortages, have intensified into a severe crisis. The National Water and Electricity Corporation (NAWEC) has attributed outages lasting up to 48 hours in regions like Serrekunda and Greater Banjul to extreme heat, an aging grid, and rising fuel costs. This shortage has triggered widespread unrest, including road blockades and protests in Banjul that were dispersed by police using tear gas. President Barrow has declared the energy shortage a ‘national security problem’ and an ‘emergency.’ To mitigate the crisis, he has promised improvements by the end of October 2026, including the commissioning of a 24-megawatt production unit and the construction of a 50-megawatt solar power plant in Soma. Responses to the crisis have varied. Political leader Talib Ahmed Bensouda has urged citizens to channel frustration through voting rather than violence, while Dr. Abdoulie Bojang has suggested legal action against NAWEC. Additionally, economic debates have emerged regarding the country’s seven-year reliance on Karpowership; economist Dr. Ousman Gajigo has characterized this reliance as a ‘costly policy failure’ that hindered domestic infrastructure development. Concurrently, observers have noted the repositioning of influential figures like Essa Mbye Faal, Pa Edi M. O. Faal, and Papa Faal. ~~This movement has been characterized by some as a return to a political culture defined by elite connections and proximity to power, which has historically influenced Gambian governance.~~

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