The Senegalese government has vowed to “shed full light” on the death of a second-year dental medicine student, Abdoulaye Ba, who lost his life during violent clashes at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) on Monday.
In an official statement released Tuesday, February 10, 2026, government spokeswoman Marie-Rose Khady Fatou Faye expressed profound sorrow over the tragedy and extended heartfelt condolences to the student’s family and the academic community.
The government has confirmed that a high-level press conference will be held later today at the Prime Minister’s office to address the incident. The meeting will include the Ministers of Justice, Interior, the Armed Forces, and Higher Education, signaling the gravity with which the state is treating the situation. Authorities have called for “restraint and responsibility” from all stakeholders, promising that responsibilities will be established in accordance with the law to ensure justice is served.
The death occurred against a backdrop of escalating protests over delayed scholarship payments and the closure of campus dining facilities. While student leaders allege that Ba was assaulted by security forces within his dormitory, the government has refrained from detailing the specific cause of death pending a full inquiry. The tragedy has reignited a national debate over campus security and the management of student grievances, particularly as similar demonstrations spread to universities in Saint-Louis, Thiès, and Ziguinchor.
AC/fss/abj/APA