Student Killed in Senegal During Protests Against Election Delay

The Ministry of Interior announced on Saturday that a student was killed in the city of Saint-Louis, Senegal, during violent protests that erupted on Friday against the postponement of the presidential elections. Intense clashes broke out between security forces and protesters in Dakar, the capital, and other cities on Friday, marking the first widespread unrest due to the election delay, which many fear could lead to prolonged instability. The ministry stated in a press release that it received information about the death of student Alpha Yero Tonkara and that it would investigate the matter, while denying any involvement of its forces in his death. It added, "The defense and security forces did not intervene to restore order on the campus where the death occurred." It was not immediately clear whether the protests would continue on Saturday. Further violent clashes with security forces are possible, heightening fears of a setback for democracy. The parliament voted to postpone the elections to December, less than three weeks before the presidential elections that were scheduled for February 25, which means an extension of President Macky Sall’s term, potentially jeopardizing democracy in the country.