Senegalese Students Clash with Police Over Delayed Financial Aid and Canteen Closures

Students at Cheikh-Anta-Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, have been protesting for over a year due to delayed financial aid, with 13 months passing since their last study bursaries. Protests escalated again on Friday after CROUS announced the closure of student canteens, citing sabotage. Students refused to pay for meals in protest, leading to heavy clashes with police across multiple universities in the city.

Cheikh-Anta-Diop University in Dakar, Senegal, has been experiencing ongoing unrest since early December, as students voice their frustration over the government’s failure to provide timely financial aid. The situation escalated again on Friday, with protests spreading to other universities across the city, reflecting widespread dissatisfaction among the student population over the long delays in receiving their study bursaries.
Students at Cheikh-Anta-Diop University report that it has been thirteen months since they last received their study bursaries, a situation that has left many struggling to meet basic living and educational expenses. For them, the delay is unacceptable, and they argue that it has created a severe financial strain that affects both their studies and daily life. The first wave of protests began in early December 2025, when students took to the streets to demand that the government fulfill its obligations regarding their financial aid.
During these demonstrations, tensions between students and authorities escalated. Some students threw rocks, prompting security forces to respond with teargas in an effort to disperse crowds and restore order. The involvement of security forces was requested by authorities, highlighting the seriousness of the confrontations and the challenges faced in managing the unrest.
On Friday, the situation intensified following an announcement from the CROUS (regional center for university services), which stated that all student canteens would be closed after dinner. The CROUS cited “acts of sabotage” committed by students as the reason for the closures. The announcement followed a series of student-led initiatives known as “days without tickets,” in which students refused to pay for their canteen meals to protest the continued delays in receiving financial aid.
Following the CROUS decision, protests quickly spread beyond Cheikh-Anta-Diop University to other institutions across Dakar. Students rallied in large numbers, engaging in demonstrations that led to heavy clashes with police in several parts of the city. The confrontations underscored the deep frustration among students, who feel ignored and left without adequate support, and raised concerns about potential disruptions to academic activities.
Authorities are faced with the challenge of balancing the enforcement of order with addressing the legitimate grievances of students. While security forces have been deployed to manage demonstrations, students continue to call for swift action from the government to release their overdue financial aid. The unrest at Cheikh-Anta-Diop University and other institutions reflects broader issues in higher education in Senegal, particularly regarding funding, student welfare, and the need for responsive institutional and governmental support.