On August 1, 2024, members of the Student and School Federation of Côte d’Ivoire (FESCI) clashed with police at the Félix Houphouët Boigny University in Cocody, Abidjan. 

FESCI, a student union, had been striking for about a week over the previous arrest of student demonstrators who had been protesting poor conditions on campus. During a rally on August 1, police arrived and used tear gas to disperse the students. Clashes broke out as students threw stones at police, shattering several campus windows in the process. Multiple police and students were injured. Two cars were burned and seven cars were damaged. Many students, including a leader of the FESCI, were arrested. 

Scholars at Risk is concerned about the use of force during a student protest. While state authorities have the responsibility to maintain order and prevent disruption, they must refrain from the disproportionate use of force and endangerment of civilians and must respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Students must refrain from violence, especially on campus, and also respect the right to freedom of association and freedom of expression. Such actions, beyond harming the immediate victims, have a chilling effect on academic freedom.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED) Afrik Soir; Koaci News
https://www.africanews.com/2016/07/19/ivorian-president-reacts-to-clashes-between-university-students-and-police/
https://wadr.org/police-and-students-clash-at-the-felix-houphouet-boigny-university-in-cote-divoire/