Senegal: Student Protests Escalate at Cheikh Anta Diop University. Dakar, Senegal — Tensions have reached a boiling point at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar, following the death of a medical student during clashes with police over delayed scholarship payments.
The incident has sparked widespread student protests, with many demanding the full payment of backlogged scholarships and questioning the government’s commitment to youth opportunities.
According to local reports, Abdoulaye Ba, a second — year medical student, died as a result of injuries sustained during the clashes.
The protest was sparked by delays in scholarship payments, which have been a recurring issue for several years at UCAD.
The government has ordered students to leave the campus following the unrest, leaving many uncertain about what comes next. “.
It was the head of COUD, the Dakar University Social Services Centre, who ordered the closure of the social campus starting at noon. That is why students were forced to take all their belongings and return to where they live, “said Moussa Biaye, a biology and chemistry student.
Students are demanding the full payment of backlogged scholarships, accusing the government of attempting to permanently halt 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 unrest comes amid wider youth dissatisfaction in Senegal, where three — quarters of the population is under 35. President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s 2024 election raised hopes for change, but a year and a half into his term, and with a major debt scandal unfolding, many young people are questioning whether promises of reform have been delivered.
As students continue their protests, the government faces mounting pressure to address both scholarship arrears and broader concerns about youth opportunities in the country. Further details are expected as the situation develops.
*Additional reporting by ImNews | Sources consulted: 4*
