On March 3, 2022, unidentified individuals armed with machetes and other weapons reportedly assaulted a group of university students from Nazi Boni University who rallied in the city of Bobo-Dioulasso to protest student conditions.

A dozen or so students had gathered near Place Tiéfo-Amoro for the protest, but were met by a group of armed men who told them that they were not allowed to carry out their protest. (According to Sidwaya, the students claimed that they had received authorization from local authorities.) Two student protesters were reportedly injured.

Scholars at Risk is concerned by an assault on university students exercising their rights to freedom of expression and freedom of assembly. State authorities should take actions to prevent such attacks, including by carrying out investigations and holding perpetrators responsible. Attacks on student expression undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED).
https://www.sidwaya.info/blog/2022/03/03/universite-nazi-boni-des-etudiants-marcheurs-molestes-par-des-inconnus/
https://ouest-info.net/situation-a-lunb-macaire-ouedraogo-repond-aux-etudiants/
https://www.actualite.bf/bobo-dioulasso-des-jeunes-armes-de-machettes-dispersent-une-marche-de-laneb/