The government has ordered schools to close all this week following protests last week. Universities are also closed, especially UCAD, Cheikh-Anta Diop University of Dakar, one of the hotbeds in the dispute.
At the level of education, there is a strange calm. This part of UCAD has been saved. It is on the other side of the university in front of the gate to the city U at the level of the Cheikh-Anta Diop roundabout that the violence broke out. On the asphalt traces of burnt tires. A few shells of tear gas containers too.
Ibrahima and Modou have a legal degree: “The young people stood in front of the police. They were not afraid of the police. They were determined and ready to give their lives. And as a result, we lost a lot of people, and we regret that, ”begins the first. “It was hot, but if the state had reacted earlier, it would not go that far,” says the other.
An “ultra-sensitive” climate
Sitting on benches in front of the COUD stores, the Dakar Center for University Works, Pape and Bassirou take some coffee. They all hope that the head of state will have understood the message: “The fact that Ousmane Sonko has been released does not mean that everything is over,” said the first young man. We are aware of responding to any other threat or any other act of injustice. “His friend adds: ‘We did not all go out because we were naughty or something, but we are vigilant. We love justice. If justice is not balanced, young people will come out again. ”
“UCAD has always been a politicized space, but the climate is extremely sensitive at the moment,” acknowledges a source close to COUD. The security system has been strengthened. Between 200 and 300 agents are mobilized, who in particular monitor the entrances and search the vehicles.
The violence last week left at least 5 dead according to the official toll, 11 according to the opposition. The violence left 590 wounded, according to the Red Cross.
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