Gambia’s Dual Crisis: Internet Blackout Exposes Fragility of Digital Infrastructure Amid Power Collapse
The Report
As reported by The Point journalist Mafugi Ceesay, The Gambia experienced a nationwide internet outage on [date] that disrupted services for major telecommunications providers, including Africell and Comium, as well as other internet service operators relying on the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. The outage, which began in the early hours of the morning, compounded public frustration over an ongoing power crisis that has already affected homes, businesses, and public institutions.
In a statement posted on its official social media platforms, Gamtel confirmed the service outage affecting internet connectivity. The telecommunications provider stated:
“Our technical teams are actively investigating the cause and working diligently to restore services as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience caused and appreciate your patience and understanding while we work to resolve the issue.”
A source familiar with the situation told The Point that the outage was linked to a loss of power at the ACE submarine cable station in Sukuta, a critical facility connecting The Gambia to international internet networks. The source explained that the station ran out of power following ongoing electricity disruptions, affecting the operation of the submarine cable system. The source added that backup generators failed or stopped functioning, leading to battery depletion and a complete shutdown of the cable system, which requires time to recharge before services can resume.
The internet blackout triggered widespread public reaction, with many Gambians taking to social media to express frustration. Kemo Bojang, spokesperson of the Unite Movement for Change (UMC), summed up the public mood in a social media post: “No light, no water, and now no internet.” Civil society activists and rights advocates also raised concerns. Omar Camara, spokesperson for Gambians Against Looted Assets (GALA), told The Point that the situation had escalated beyond a routine utility problem, affecting businesses, hospitals, schools, and other critical services. He argued that reliable electricity and internet access are essential public services supporting development, economic growth, and civic participation.
WANA Regional Analysis
The simultaneous collapse of electricity and internet services in The Gambia represents more than a domestic inconvenience; it signals a systemic vulnerability that carries profound implications for the broader West African region. The outage at the ACE submarine cable station—a critical node connecting The Gambia to international internet networks—underscores the fragility of digital infrastructure in countries where power grids are already under severe strain.
From a regional policy perspective, this incident highlights a growing concern across West Africa: the interdependence of energy and digital infrastructure. As ECOWAS member states push for digital transformation and increased internet penetration to drive economic growth, the reliability of electricity supply remains a foundational prerequisite. The Gambia’s experience demonstrates that even a single point of failure—a power loss at a submarine cable station—can cascade into a nationwide communications blackout, disrupting commerce, education, healthcare, and governance.
The economic consequences are significant. For a country like The Gambia, where the digital economy is still nascent but growing, prolonged internet outages can deter foreign investment, disrupt remittance flows, and hamper small and medium-sized enterprises that rely on online platforms. The broader ECOWAS region, which has seen a surge in digital financial services and e-commerce, must take note: without resilient energy infrastructure, the promise of a digital future remains precarious.
Politically, the crisis has amplified public discontent and provided ammunition for opposition figures and civil society groups. The Unite Movement for Change and Gambians Against Looted Assets have framed the outages as a governance failure, questioning the government’s ability to manage essential services. This sentiment resonates across the region, where citizens in countries like Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Guinea have similarly endured chronic power shortages. The Gambia’s situation may serve as a cautionary tale for other West African governments: the failure to secure basic utilities can erode public trust and fuel political instability.
From a security standpoint, the internet blackout raises concerns about the resilience of critical communications infrastructure. In an era where cyber threats and disinformation are growing, the inability to maintain connectivity during a crisis could hamper emergency response, coordination among security forces, and public access to verified information. The ACE cable system, which serves multiple West African countries, is a shared resource; its vulnerability in The Gambia should prompt regional discussions on redundancy, backup power systems, and cross-border cooperation to protect undersea cable landing stations.
Diplomatically, the incident may affect The Gambia’s standing with international partners and investors who view reliable digital infrastructure as a prerequisite for engagement. The country has positioned itself as a stable democracy in a volatile region, but repeated infrastructure failures could undermine that narrative. ECOWAS, which has championed regional integration through digital connectivity, may need to consider mechanisms for supporting member states in strengthening the resilience of their digital backbones.
Against this backdrop, the Gambian government faces an urgent imperative: to address the root causes of the power crisis while simultaneously investing in backup systems for critical digital infrastructure. The private sector, including telecommunications operators, must also reassess their contingency planning. For West Africa as a whole, the lesson is clear: digital transformation cannot succeed without energy security, and the two must be pursued as intertwined policy priorities.
Regional Backdrop
The ACE (Africa Coast to Europe) submarine cable system, which landed in The Gambia in 2012, is a vital piece of infrastructure connecting 23 countries along the West African coast to Europe. It has significantly reduced internet costs and improved bandwidth for participating nations. However, the cable’s landing stations are often located in areas with unreliable power grids, making them dependent on backup generators and batteries. Similar vulnerabilities have been reported in other West African countries, including Sierra Leone and Liberia, where power outages have periodically disrupted internet services. The Gambia’s current crisis is a stark reminder that the region’s digital ambitions are only as strong as its energy foundations.
Original Reporting By: The Point