By Abdoulie John
A medical student was killed Monday during intense clashes between protesters and security forces at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD), Senegal’s premier higher education institution, escalating long-simmering tensions over delayed scholarship payments and student welfare.
The deceased, identified as Abdoulaye Bâ, a second-year student in dental surgery and medicine, died amid what authorities described as “serious events” on the sprawling Dakar campus. The government has pledged a full investigation into the circumstances, while student associations have alleged police brutality, including claims that Bâ was assaulted in his dormitory room despite not actively participating in the demonstrations. Reports indicate he suffered fatal head trauma and severe blood loss.
The protests, which have persisted for months, center on unpaid stipends and allowances — a chronic issue in Senegal’s public universities amid broader fiscal pressures. Students have resorted to dramatic actions, including storming campus restaurants to demand “free meals” in response to the delays and deteriorating living conditions.
On Monday, demonstrations boiled over into full-scale confrontations, with security forces deploying to disperse crowds. The crackdown prompted widespread outrage and prompted authorities to order the indefinite closure of student residences and dining facilities on Tuesday, disrupting life for thousands of students, many from outside Dakar.
The tragedy has sparked widespread condemnation across Senegal’s political and civil society landscape.
Pape Alé Niang, Director General of the state-owned Radio Télévision Sénégalaise (RTS), highlighted what he called a “deeply ingrained mentality” in security forces — rooted in colonial-era practices — that risks lethal abuses.
In a Facebook post, he urged the state to launch a transparent investigation to uncover the truth and prevent further loss of life.
Wal Fadjri TV senior reporter Pape Makhtar Diallo warned authorities against repeating past mistakes, criticizing those who dismiss the protests as “manipulation.” He rejected claims that students are being misled, insisting that leaders must take responsibility rather than resort to violence and denial. Diallo drew parallels to the previous administration under Macky Sall, accusing sycophants and certain media figures of distorting reality and perpetuating failed strategies.
Alioune Tine, founder of the AfrkaJom Center, expressed deep concern over the “indiscriminate crackdown,” describing police repression as the “worst possible response” to legitimate demands for scholarship payments.
In a late Monday statement, he called for an immediate halt to security operations on campus, urging forces to withdraw and students to avoid violence. Tine appealed for all parties to return to negotiations and pressed President Bassirou Diomaye Faye to address the nation directly — explaining economic challenges, reassuring citizens, and implementing concrete measures to resolve the crisis, restore confidence, and protect the academic year.
As Senegal grapples with public finance strains, including significant budget shortfalls, the UCAD unrest underscores growing youth frustration with the state’s delivery of basic services. The government has reiterated its commitment to shedding light on Bâ’s death while calling for calm, but tensions remain high on campus and beyond.
