Protests in the West African nation of The Gambia, sparked by continuous power outages, have escalated into rallies calling for the resignation of the administration.

President Adama Barrow, who is eyeing a third term, has defined the power outage issue as a "state of emergency" in an effort to appease public sentiment.

Protests erupting over frequent blackouts took place from the night of the 7th to the early hours of the 8th, local time, across more than 10 locations in the capital city of Banjul and surrounding areas.

Demonstrators burned tires and blocked roads on the streets, with some chanting slogans calling for "President Barrow to step down."

Protesters also gathered near the vice president's official residence and moved toward the state-run electricity company.

The offices of the ruling National People's Party (NPP) were reportedly vandalized, and banners were damaged.

Police used tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.

The Gambia has experienced widespread blackouts since June.

As electricity demand increased due to recent soaring temperatures, power outages became longer and more frequent, with some areas reportedly facing blackouts lasting for over 48 hours.

In a national address on the 8th, local time, President Barrow acknowledged flaws in the government's power generation planning and maintenance systems, defining the power outage crisis as both a "national security issue" and a "state of emergency."

Following a visit to power plants near the capital operated by the state electricity company, Barrow said, "I feel the pain of all Gambians affected by this crisis," and promised to "improve the electricity supply situation by the end of October."

President Barrow has formalized his intention to run in the presidential election scheduled for December 5, effectively declaring his bid for a third term.

The Gambia's current constitution does not place a limit on the number of presidential terms.