Focus on Africa What prompted weeks-long students protests in Senegal?
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Feb 18, 2026 Hafsat Abdullahi (Javi), a Nigerian spoken-word poet known for viral piece 'The Girl in English Class', discusses oral tradition and youth expression. Boris Sotal, Dakar-based journalist, reports from Cheikh Anta Diop University on students protesting unpaid stipends, campus tensions, a tragic death, and links to national debt and budget cuts. Short, sharp conversations on activism, culture and economic pressure.
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Stipend Delays Spark National Student Uproar
- Senegalese students staged weeks-long protests over unpaid stipends that many rely on to survive.
- The protests escalated after a deadly clash at Cheikh Anta Diop University that sparked national outrage.
Contested Accounts Around A Student's Death
- Authorities say the student died after jumping from a burning building, while students allege police caused the fire or beat him.
- Conflicting accounts and a video of rooftop chaos fuelled anger and distrust toward the government.
Debt Crisis Drives Austerity Cuts
- Senegal's debt revelations forced austerity measures that include cutting student allowances.
- The IMF found borrowing larger than the economy, which the government cites to justify cuts.