Violence in Senegal’s University turns students on government
Students leave Senegal's top public University, Cheikh Anta Diop, as the University shut down after the death of a medical student Abdoulaye Ba amidst violence on Feb 10th (via AP)
Students are leaving Senegal’s top public University, Cheik Anta Diop in Dakar, amid violence and unrest at the institution after the government failed to meet students’ needs and demands, as reported by Africa News via AFP on February 12th.
The protests resulted in the death of a medical student, Abdoulaye Ba, and the university being closed down; the issue of stipends has been contested by students for years, as Senegal’s public University calendar has been repeatedly disrupted with prolonged closures.
Students receive a monthly stipend of 40,000 CFA francs ($73) from the government for their education, and long closures leave many students without money for months, as they depend on it as their sole income.
Students are calling for the complete settlement of overdue scholarship payments, alleging that the government is trying to permanently cancel the outstanding arrears.
“Recently, our comrade Mr Ba passed away yesterday. This is not normal at all. We will continue to fight until our arrears and the full payment of the scholarships are made,” said Omzi Diaw, an English studies student.
The latest protests at Senegal’s public universities began in December 2025, with an estimated 80,000 students taking to the streets to demand the authorities’ resignation.
On February 9th, the situation escalated, with footage on social media showing flames and smoke emerging from a four-storey student residence as students attempted to escape through windows. The campus was left with burnt vehicles and shattered barricades.
The police were seen setting tear gas on students, with students retaliating by throwing stones. The intervention resulted in the death of a second-year medical student, Abdoulaye Ba, which has sparked nationwide outrage.
The unrest is characterised by broader youth dissatisfaction with the Senegalese government. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s 2024 election saw youth support in hopes for radical change, but his term has been marked by major debt and unkept promises, which the youth are questioning.
About 75% of Senegal’s population is under 35, and their role in bringing current Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko and President Faye to power has been significant.
The clashes fit into a wider pattern of youth-led unrest across Africa, where younger generations are increasingly mobilising against economic hardship, unfulfilled political promises, and heavy-handed state responses.
In Morocco in late 2025, a predominantly young movement known as GenZ 212 took to the streets to demand improved public services, more economic opportunity, and an end to corruption — a campaign sparked by the death of a young filmmaker and met with a harsh security crackdown that drew widespread criticism from rights organisations and amplified frustration with governance.
A statement by the Senegalese government said that “serious events” had contributed to the student’s death, though it did not provide specific details, and pledged to launch an official inquiry. Meanwhile, human rights groups have condemned what they describe as the disproportionate use of force by security forces during the protests.
Africa News via AFP, AP News, Future UAE, Maghrebi.org
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