BANJUL, Sept 8 (Reuters) – Police used tear gas to disperse protesters who gathered overnight in multiple locations in Gambia, including near President Adama Barrow’s official residence, to denounce what they described as prolonged power cuts, residents and a Reuters witness said.
In and around the capital Banjul, protesters burned tyres in the street and erected barricades, shouting “Barrow must go!” as plumes of smoke filled the air, the Reuters witness said.
The West African nation’s electricity issues – with some residents reporting blackouts lasting up to 48 hours – come ahead of a presidential election expected in December in which Barrow is seeking a third term.
In a sign of growing frustration with the government, protesters in the town of Farato gathered outside the residence of Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow and destroyed banners at an office of the ruling National People’s Party.A police spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
Barrow was scheduled to visit facilities for the national utility, National Water and Electricity Company Ltd, on Tuesday morning and address the nation at 8 p.m. (2000 GMT).
UTILITY WARNED OF DEMAND SURGE DUE TO HEAT
NAWEC said in a statement on August 15 that it was experiencing “an unforeseen surge in electricity demand during the peak period” which it attributed to high temperatures.
It also reported “a technical incident affecting one of the major power-generating units on the import side”, without elaborating.
The situation would require load shedding “affecting several parts of the country”, but no dates were given.
NAWEC did not respond to a request for comment on Tuesday.
“There is no light everywhere. There is no light. People have been crying about electricity,” said Ousainu Jammeh, a resident of the Westfield area of Banjul.
Jammeh said he went outside to join protesters after tear gas “landed in my house”.
After protests died down in the pre-dawn hours, Jammeh joined crowds of young men who used water to douse fires and clear the barricades.
Traffic had returned to normal in Banjul on Tuesday morning.
(Reporting by Pap Saine and Malick Njie; Writing by Robbie Corey-Boulet; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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