Analyst Juwara Criticizes Police Response to Nighttime Protests Over Power Outages

By Makutu Manneh

Lamin Juwara, a political analyst, has criticized the Police Intervention Unit’s response to protests over prolonged power outages on Monday night, saying officers should have sought to engage demonstrators before resorting to force.

Speaking on Kerr Fatou’s Politic Kachaa program, Mr. Juwara questioned the police unit’s approach to crowd control, particularly in circumstances that he described as unfamiliar to officers.

“This is the first time in the history of this country for a protest to happen at night,” he said. “How many of these officers have the training to curtail such a situation—a civil protest late at night?”

Mr. Juwara said the nighttime demonstrations presented challenges that differed from protests held during the day, including difficulty determining where demonstrators were gathering and moving from. He noted that the use of tear gas was relatively brief and said officers ultimately turned to negotiations with protesters.

He argued that the demonstrations were driven by mounting frustration over persistent electricity shortages, compounded by hot weather, and that authorities should have recognized those grievances before using force.

“People don’t just come out recklessly to protest,” Mr. Juwara said, adding that engagement should have been the authorities’ first response.

Mr. Juwara also criticized the government’s communication during the electricity crisis, saying President Adama Barrow’s advisers should have urged him to address the nation earlier and explain the causes of the outages and the government’s plans to restore reliable service.

The protests erupted Monday night in parts of the Greater Banjul Area and Banjul after persistent electricity disruptions that have affected households, businesses, and health facilities.