By: Fatou Krubally
Gambian rights activist Madi Jobarteh has criticised the government’s handling of the country’s ongoing electricity crisis, saying citizens cannot afford to endure prolonged power outages while awaiting promised improvements.
In a statement entitled “We Cannot Wait Two Weeks”, Jobarteh questioned official explanations for the recent nationwide blackouts and expressed scepticism over assurances that the situation would improve within two weeks.
He said much of The Gambia’s electricity supply remains dependent on imports from neighbouring Senegal, arguing that the relative stability of power supply in some provincial areas is largely sustained by electricity provided by Senegal’s national utility company, Senelec.
According to Jobarteh, claims that the current outages are the result of a regional challenge raise questions about why Senegal has not experienced disruptions of a similar magnitude despite continuing to export electricity to The Gambia and other countries in the sub-region.
He attributed Senegal’s ability to satisfy domestic demand while exporting power to sustained investment in electricity generation capacity, while maintaining that The Gambia’s domestic production remains insufficient to meet national demand.
Jobarteh said the current crisis reflects deeper structural challenges in the energy sector, including inadequate planning, weak investment and the absence of a long-term strategy to expand generation capacity.
He also argued that successive governments had failed to develop sufficient domestic energy infrastructure, including renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, thereby increasing the country’s vulnerability to external supply shocks.
The activist further expressed concern over the frequency and duration of power cuts, citing reports from affected communities, including Kembujeh, where residents allegedly experienced an overnight blackout.
While noting government assurances that the situation could improve within two weeks, Jobarteh urged authorities to prepare citizens for all possible scenarios and to pursue practical measures aimed at addressing the country’s energy challenges.
He stressed the need for greater self-reliance in electricity generation to ensure long-term energy security for The Gambia.