The National Water and Electricity Company (NAWEC) has assured residents that the ongoing power shortages in the Greater Banjul Area and West Coast Region will ease by mid-June 2026, once regional imports are restored and maintenance works on domestic generation units are completed.
For now, the capital and surrounding communities remain in the dark. Streetlights are off, generators hum across neighborhoods, and households rely on candles to get through long evenings. NAWEC confirmed that imports from the regional grid have dropped by 60 megawatts due to technical failures and fuel shortages, while domestic backup generation is still under repair. The shortfall has forced rationing across districts.
Emergency load management has been introduced to prioritize hospitals, water facilities, and other critical services. While essential systems remain powered, households and businesses endure extended outages. Families adjust their routines to the rhythm of power cuts, and small businesses struggle to keep operations afloat. Communities have responded with resilience, pooling resources and sharing generators to cope with the disruption.
NAWEC has acknowledged the inconvenience and pledged to provide regular updates. Until mid-June, the blackout remains more than a technical challenge — it is a test of patience and determination for Gambians awaiting the return of reliable electricity.
