Due to ongoing political unrest in Senegal, the energy supply in The Gambia has been negatively affected. The Senegalese electrical company Senelec provides The Gambia with roughly half its electricity, as the two countries share a power grid.
However, protests and clashes between protesters and police in Senegal have led to power cuts in The Gambia.
The political unrest in Senegal began in March 2021 when opposition leader Ousmane Sonko was arrested on charges of rape. This sparked widespread protests, with demonstrators demanding Sonko’s release and calling for President Macky Sall’s government to end. The protests have sometimes turned violent, with clashes between protesters and police.
As a result of the protests and the impact on infrastructure, including power lines, The Gambia has been experiencing power cuts. These outages have significantly impacted households and businesses, causing economic disruption and hindering daily life. In addition, the situation has highlighted the vulnerability of The Gambia’s energy supply, as the country is heavily dependent on electricity imports from Senegal.
In response to the crisis, The Gambia has sought assistance from the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to help mediate the situation in Senegal. Additionally, the government of The Gambia has announced plans to develop its energy infrastructure to reduce reliance on imports from Senegal and improve energy security.
Overall, the political unrest in Senegal has directly impacted the energy supply in The Gambia. While efforts are being made to address the situation, the crisis highlights the importance of developing domestic energy infrastructure and reducing dependence on imports from neighboring countries.
