DAKAR, Senegal: A student was killed in the northern city of Saint-Louis in Senegal, RFM radio reported, as protests spread across the West African country.
Senegalese security forces fired tear gas against protesters in the capital on Friday as mounting anger over the postponement of presidential elections reportedly claimed its first victim.
Police used tear gas to prevent protesters from entering the Place de la Nation in central Dakar, where the demonstration was planned.
When the square was closed off, hundreds of protesters threw rocks at the police and set tires on fire.
Anger has been building since President Macky Sall postponed presidential elections scheduled for February 25 until December.
Clashes spread to other areas of the capital, shutting down major roads, railway lines and major markets.
According to reports on social networks, demonstrations were also held in other cities.
The death of the student in Saint-Louis was confirmed to media by a local hospital source on condition of anonymity. Tolls have not been set by the authorities.
Police also dispersed a protest of about 200 people in Nioro du Rip, about 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Dakar.
The postponement of the elections was criticized by the United States and the European Union. Senegal’s parliament backed the move after security forces stormed the chamber and removed some opposition lawmakers.
The crisis has cast doubt on the West African country’s reputation for democratic stability in a region plagued by military coups.
Protests usually require a permit, and rights advocates say authorities have routinely banned opposition demonstrations. Since 2021, dozens of people have been killed and hundreds arrested during the unrest in the country.
“Senegalese must show their anger, and not just on social media,” said candidate Thierno Alassane Sall, who is not related to the president.
Under the civil society platform Aar Sunu Election (Let’s Protect Our Elections), the school unions called on the teachers to walk out.
At the Blaise Diagne high school in Dakar, hundreds of students walked out of class with their teacher.
The new date for the presidential election was set for December 15.
The opposition condemned Sall’s move as a “constitutional coup”.
On Friday, 14 opposition candidates appealed the move to the Supreme Court.
Sall said on Saturday that he postponed the election because of a dispute between parliament and the Constitutional Council over potential candidates who were not allowed to run.
After months of speculation that he was considering running for a third term, Sall said in July that he would not run again and repeated his commitment several times.
