The Gambia’s President Adama Barrow has called for calm amid widespread protests triggered by prolonged power outages affecting the capital Banjul and surrounding areas. The unrest on Monday night followed reports of blackouts lasting up to 48 hours, intensifying public frustration during a period of soaring temperatures that have driven electricity demand higher.

Barrow acknowledged the challenges faced by residents during a televised address on Tuesday, emphasizing that the electricity crisis is not unique to The Gambia but is also impacting several countries across West Africa. He pledged to enhance power supplies by next month, noting that the country relies on a combination of domestic generation and imported electricity, including imports from Guinea and Senegal.

The blackout crisis in The Gambia has persisted since June, with outages growing more frequent and severe during the current hot season. On Monday night, demonstrators responded by burning tires and blocking roads in Banjul and nearby districts. Police deployed tear gas to disperse protesters near the Westfield area, where crowds advanced toward the headquarters of the national electricity company, Nawec. Some protesters chanted slogans calling for Barrow’s resignation.

Protest gatherings also targeted the vice-president’s residence in Farato, with reports of damage to banners at offices affiliated with Barrow’s ruling National People’s Party. The protests come amid political tensions ahead of a presidential election scheduled for December, in which Barrow is pursuing a contested third term.

In his remarks, Barrow cautioned against destruction of public property, warning that such actions would exacerbate disruptions and divert resources away from addressing the power shortages. The government is under mounting pressure to resolve the electricity issues that have sparked nationwide dissatisfaction and triggered a rare wave of unrest in the small West African nation.