SAR’s Academic Freedom Monitoring Project investigates and reports attacks on higher education with the aim of raising awareness, generating advocacy, and increasing protection for scholars, students, and academic communities. Starting July 1, 2026, SAR no longer publishes reports for the incidents that it records. SAR continues to monitor and record incidents that will be used in the annual Free to Think report. This page provides a record of incidents reported up to that date. Learn more about the Academic Freedom Monitoring Project.

Date of Incident: January 13, 2022

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances

Institution(s):Nazi Boni University

Region & Country:Western Africa | Burkina Faso

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On January 13, 2022, students from the Nazi Boni University clashed with police after a general assembly suddenly turned into a protest. Police reportedly fired tear gas and live ammunition when students barricaded streets with rocks and burning tires. Sources indicate that some students were seriously injured.

Scholars at Risk is concerned by violence during a campus protest, including especially reports of live ammunition being fired at student protesters. While state security forces have a responsibility to maintain safety and order, they also have a responsibility to ensure that their actions are proportionate and are not intended to restrict or retaliate against nonviolent expressive activity. Likewise, while students have rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, they should exercise those rights peacefully and responsibly.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
https://www.aib.media/2022/01/14/bobo-dioulasso-universite-nazi-boni-une-marche-des-etudiants-transformee-en-course-poursuite-avec-la-police/
https://minute.bf/universite-nazi-boni-des-osc-exigent-une-enquete-sur-la-violence-deployee-contre-les-etudiants/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74ziXAAIB4k