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: December 03, 2025

Attack Types: Killings, Violence, Disappearances | Imprisonment

Institution(s):Cheikh Anta Diop University

Region & Country:Western Africa | Senegal

New or Ongoing:New Incident

On December 3, 2025, Senegalese security forces clashed with students protesting for financial aid at Cheikh Anta Diop University.

Against the backdrop of a national economic crisis, students in Senegal had held peaceful demonstrations to demand stipends and other financial aid for over a year. In the context of ongoing protests, university authorities requested intervention by law enforcement on December 3, citing risks to safety, property, and academic continuity. Students threw rocks at police entering the campus, who responded with tear gas. Reports indicated that at least sixteen students and between four and eleven police officers were injured. Police detained ten students in the clash.

Following the clash, the Senegalese government announced the payment of university scholarships.

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 and members of the public 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:
https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/students-senegal-clash-with-security-forces-over-financial-aid-2025-12-03/
https://mfwa.org/country-highlights/senegal-students-protest-scholarship-delays-amid-clashes-with-police/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1p6cia8oMs
https://wadr.org/senegal-students-clash-with-police-over-unpaid-allowances/
https://afrique.le360.ma/societe/senegal-le-gouvernement-debloque-les-bourses-universitaires-apres-des-violents-affrontements-entre_YCKVGOCOJRDL5COJVJRU2SCR5Y/
https://monitor.civicus.org/explore/police-violence-during-student-protests-several-journalists-arrested-and-prosecuted-council-of-ministers-adopts-draconian-anti-lgbtqi-law/