Senegal Student Death: Protests, Arrests & Claims of Cover-Up

Senegal Reels After Student’s Death During University Protests

Dakar, Senegal – Thousands of students have left Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar following the death of a second-year medical student, Abdoulaye Ba, during protests over unpaid financial aid. The university has been effectively evacuated, with students gathering their belongings and leaving campus, many utilizing motorcycle taxis and porters to transport their possessions.

The protests, which have been ongoing for weeks over delayed stipends, escalated into clashes with security forces on Monday, February 10, 2026. Videos circulating on social media reportedly showed security forces entering university grounds and deploying tear gas, while students responded by throwing stones.

Senegal’s Interior Minister, Mouhamadou Bamba Cisse, described the situation as a “tragedy” and acknowledged acts of violence committed by security forces attempting to quell the unrest. “There were acts of violence that we witnessed on both sides, and acts that we saw emanating from the defence and security forces. As an official, these are acts that condone,” Cisse said at a press conference, announcing an investigation into the events.

A student association collective has alleged that Abdoulaye Ba was “brutally tortured to death by police officers,” a claim that remains unverified as of Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The unrest highlights growing frustration among Senegalese students regarding economic difficulties and broken promises from the government. University students have been rallying against the issue of stipend arrears for several years, a problem particularly acute for young people in the country.

Authorities have reportedly detained 105 students at the central police station in Dakar, according to another student group. The situation remains tense as investigations continue and the university remains closed.

The death of Abdoulaye Ba has sparked outrage and accusations of betrayal from students, with some expressing a sense of disillusionment with the current government. According to reports, some students feel the government has failed to deliver on its promises, leading to a crisis of trust.

The university’s student residences and dining halls have been closed by Senegalese authorities in the wake of the protests and the student’s death. The closure leaves thousands of students without on-campus housing and access to meals, further exacerbating the challenges they face.