The leader of the Gambia Democratic Congress (GDC), Mama Kandeh, has described the electricity protest in the Greater Banjul Area on Monday, September 7, 2026, as a deliberate act of sabotage, claiming it was planned days in advance.
Speaking during a gathering in Sare Fodikeh, Kandeh urged President Adama Barrow to take decisive action, insisting that the protest was not a spontaneous reaction to power cuts but a coordinated attempt to destabilize.
“Based on my imagination, this message will reach President Adama Barrow, and I believe he must take action because I believe this is sabotage,” Kandeh said.
He questioned how demonstrators managed to obtain candles after midnight, arguing that their possession pointed to prior preparation. “Those who went out to protest came out after 12 a.m., and all of them had candles. Shops were already closed at that time. Then where did they get those candles? In my mind, the candles were bought earlier and the protest was planned,” he claimed.
Kandeh further stressed that the ongoing electricity disruptions should not be politicized, noting that the challenges affect households across the country, including the President’s residence.
“Since we are about to head to elections, I am not in support of disruption of electricity supply. My intention is to have electricity supply in my house, and I know the way power is being turned off in my house is the same in the President’s house and elsewhere. Then we are all facing the same difficulties,” he added.
The GDC leader’s remarks come amid growing frustration over frequent power outages, which have sparked public demonstrations in recent weeks.
