A Senegalese public prosecutor has rejected allegations that police killed Abdoulaye Ba, a medical student whose death during campus protests at Cheikh Anta Diop University (UCAD) in Dakar has shaken the nation.
Conflicting Accounts
Ba died on February 9, 2026, amid clashes between students and security forces. His autopsy revealed severe chest and skull injuries complicated by massive internal bleeding, ruling out natural causes.
Student groups insist Ba was “brutally tortured to death by the police.” However, prosecutor Ibrahima Ndoye told reporters Tuesday that Ba “had not been beaten” but instead jumped from the fourth floor of Pavilion F while fleeing a dormitory fire.
“He jumped from the fourth floor and unfortunately landed on the asphalt. This explains the injuries and other damage observed by the forensic doctor,” Ndoye said.
The prosecutor did not provide details about the cause of the fire, which reportedly broke out during the police intervention.
Government Response
The Senegalese government described Ba’s death as a “tragedy” and acknowledged police misconduct, while Interior Minister Mouhamadou Bamba Cisse defended the intervention, accusing students of attempting to destroy campus infrastructure.
Video footage shared on social media and authenticated by AFP showed violent confrontations, including police firing tear gas into buildings and students retaliating with stones. In one clip, officers were seen striking a screaming man with blunt instruments.
Student Anger
UCAD’s student collective accused the prosecutor of “stirring up confusion” by denying torture allegations. The incident has intensified tensions following several days of demonstrations, raising concerns about state accountability and the handling of student protests.
Outlook
The death of Abdoulaye Ba underscores the fragile balance between youth activism, state authority, and civil rights in Senegal. As investigations continue, the case is likely to remain a flashpoint in the broader debate over police conduct and freedom of expression in the country.
