Violent protests erupted after President Macky Sall postponed presidential elections for several months.
One student was killed in violent protests against the postponement of the presidential election in St. Louis, Senegal.
Clashes between security forces and demonstrators broke out in Senegal's capital and other cities on Friday, the first widespread unrest over delayed voting that many fear could lead to prolonged instability. Are concerned.
The Ministry of Interior and Public Security said in a statement on Saturday that it had been informed of the death of student Alpha Yero Tunkara and that an investigation would be carried out, but denied that the Ministry of Interior and Public Security forces were responsible.
“The defense and security forces did not intervene to maintain order on the university campus where the fatal accident occurred,” the statement said.
It was not immediately clear whether the protests continued Saturday. Further violent confrontations with security forces will further increase fears of democratic backsliding.
Less than three weeks before the Feb. 25 presidential vote, Congress voted to postpone the presidential vote to December, confirming President Macky Sall's term extension, but in a move that left the country vulnerable to a coup d'état. There are growing concerns that one of West Africa's remaining democracies is under threat.
Mr. Sall has reached the constitutional limit of two terms.
The vote in parliament came after opposition members were forcibly removed from the chamber while debate was in progress.
After the parliamentary vote, 39 members of the opposition coalition, Youwi Askan Uy, and several opposition presidential candidates filed a legal challenge to the Constitutional Court against the delay.
To quell anger, Sall said he had postponed the election to restore confidence in the electoral process after questions arose over the list of candidates.
But anger remained high, with critics denouncing the move as an “institutional coup.”
“We are tired of Macky Sall. He has already served two terms, what else does he want?” a protester told Al Jazeera.