Senegal Student Killed as University Protests Over Financial Aid Turn Deadly

A student has died during protests over delayed financial aid at Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar, the government confirmed Monday, as weeks of unrest between students and security forces spiraled into violence.

Abdoulaye Ba, a second-year dental surgery student, sustained fatal head injuries and severe blood loss, according to Cheikh Atab Sagna, president of the Student Association of the Faculty of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry. Student leaders said Ba was not participating in the protests when he was allegedly assaulted by police inside student residences and later taken to a nearby student welfare office.

Reuters-verified footage from the campus showed flames and thick smoke engulfing the upper floor of a four-story building, with students climbing out of windows or jumping to the ground to escape the fire.

The government said the circumstances surrounding Ba’s death are under investigation. In a statement, authorities described his passing as resulting from injuries sustained during “serious events” on campus and pledged a “thorough inquiry to determine any legal responsibility.”

The protests, which began in early December over delayed stipends, have intensified against the backdrop of Senegal’s worsening public finances. The administration that assumed office in April 2024 is grappling with a $13 billion budget shortfall—one of Africa’s most severe hidden debt crises. Delays in government payments, including student allowances, have fueled growing frustration.

Human rights groups, including the Senegalese League for Human Rights and Amnesty International Senegal, condemned what they described as “disproportionate use of force by police” during the campus clashes.

Cheikh Anta Diop University, one of West Africa’s largest with nearly 90,000 students, announced it would close from midday Tuesday “until further notice.”

Student Madawass Diagne, who has been assisting students unable to afford travel home, expressed disillusionment with the government. “We are not in favour of the same injustices we were fighting against,” he said. “It feels like a whole country has been betrayed.”

The unrest has intensified scrutiny of Senegal’s public finances. A government audit released last year revealed the nation’s debt and budget deficits were far larger than previously reported, complicating slow-moving negotiations with the International Monetary Fund over new financing programs.

As Senegal confronts mounting fiscal pressure and public unrest, the tragic death of Abdoulaye Ba underscores the urgency of addressing student grievances and restoring safety on campus.