Senegal University on Lockdown After Deadly Unrest. Dakar, Senegal — 2026-02-13 Lead Paragraph: Senegal’s Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar has suspended all student associations following violent demonstrations over delayed scholarship payments that led to the death of a second-year medical student.
The campus remains closed as investigations into the incident continue.
The situation escalated on the UCAD campus when students took to the streets to protest the non — payment of their stipends.
According to local reports, the unrest turned deadly when a second — year medical student was killed during a police intervention.
The incident remains under investigation, and the circumstances of the student’s death are unclear.
University officials have expressed their deep concern over the tragedy, stating that the academic council has decided to suspend the student associations “on a precautionary basis and until further notice, for safety reasons.”
The closure of the campus comes as a precautionary measure to prevent further violence. Senegalese students have been advocating for payment of their stipends for years, with the issue often leading to demonstrations and confrontations with law enforcement.
The government has acknowledged the tragedy and has called the student’s death a “tragedy.”
However, the Interior Minister Mouhamadou Bamba Cisse defended the police intervention, claiming that the students were attempting to damage campus infrastructure.
The student association collective has held Senegal’s president, prime minister, and other government officials responsible for the deadly violence.
They have called for UCAD to be shut down “until further notice.”This incident, which has disrupted the university’s academic calendar, is yet another example of the ongoing struggle between students and the government over financial support.
As of now, officials have not yet commented on the possibility of re — opening the campus.
The situation remains fluid, with further details expected as the investigation progresses.
The incident at UCAD highlights the ongoing challenges faced by students in Senegal in securing their financial support. With the university still closed and the investigation ongoing, it remains unclear when classes will resume and whether the student associations will be allowed to resume their activities.
Further details are expected in the coming days.
