Amid growing public frustration over persistent power outages in The Gambia, Marie Sock Jabbie , a leader of the Alliance of Social Democrats, has expressed solidarity with citizens who took to the streets while urging young people to remain peaceful and disciplined.
In a message addressed to the Gambian people, Marie Sock Jabbie said she watched with both “pain and pride” as citizens took to the streets the previous evening, particularly in areas stretching from Banjul to Brikama.
According to her, the demonstrations reflect growing frustration among citizens who have been affected by prolonged and repeated power cuts.“
You did not come out because you wanted trouble. You came out because you have been pushed to the wall,” she said.
She highlighted the economic impact of the electricity crisis, particularly on households, small businesses and traders. She said food and fish had spoiled as a result of prolonged outages, causing additional financial hardship for families already struggling to make ends meet
Marie Sock Diaby said she understood the anger expressed by citizens and described their frustration as legitimate.
She also criticized the government over what she described as spending priorities that do not sufficiently address citizens’ basic needs, particularly access to electricity and water.“You cannot eat political offices.
You cannot store your food in a V8,” she said, criticizing what she sees as a contrast between government spending and the daily struggles faced by ordinary Gambians.
The opposition figure also recalled that she had warned President Adama Barrow several months ago about the risk of pushing citizens to a breaking point.
While acknowledging the frustration behind the protests, Marie Sock Jabbie urged young Gambians not to resort to violence or destroy public property.
She said she understood why some youths had burned tyres or targeted political offices, describing such actions as an expression of the anger of a population that feels “hungry, tired and betrayed
.”However, she called on young people to remain disciplined and channel their anger into unity, organization, peaceful resistance and the democratic process
She further warned protesters against giving the authorities an opportunity to portray them as violent criminals.
“Show them that you are more organized, more patriotic and more determined than they are,” she said.
Marie Sock Jabbie also expressed solidarity with families whose food had spoiled, young people whose businesses had been disrupted and citizens who had spent hours in darkness.“
To every Gambian who sat in darkness while the State House had light — I stand with you,” she declared
.She concluded with a call for national unity, insisting that The Gambia belongs to all its citizens.
“We are one Gambia, one people, one destiny,” she said, adding that the electricity denied to citizens today must be restored through collective efforts tomorrow.“
The Gambia belongs to all of us, not to a few,” Marie Sock Diaby concluded.
moussa Diba
