ELHAJI Cisse, a 26-year-old student, tragically lost his life on Friday amid the violent riots that engulfed Senegal’s capital, Dakar. As chaos erupted outside, Cisse used his social media platform to warn his followers about the security forces firing live rounds at protesters and shared first aid tips for those injured in the streets.
Offline, Cisse extended his assistance to his community, providing guidance to elderly neighbours on dealing with the effects of tear gas inhalation, according to his younger brother, Djimbala Ba. ‘He spent his time in the service of others,’ expressed Ba, 24, tearfully recalling their shared bed in a small side room. ‘He was a good patriot,’ he told Reuters.
At around 9 pm on Friday, after having dinner, Cisse courageously walked to a nearby mosque to pray, despite the clashes between security forces and rioters nearby, as confirmed by Ba and their friend, Cheikh Ndiaye. Minutes later, he was shot.
The recent unrest, sparked by the imprisonment of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, which could potentially disqualify him from the upcoming presidential elections in February, has claimed the lives of sixteen individuals, making it the deadliest unrest in Senegal in decades. Sonko has denied any wrongdoing, and his supporters, believing the charges to be politically motivated, have taken to the streets in large numbers, engaging in violent confrontations with security forces, vandalizing properties, and setting fires.
Security forces have responded with tear gas, and allegations of excessive force have been raised by human rights organisations. The government has reported the arrest of five hundred people in connection with the protests, while security forces have denied firing on protesters or using excessive force.
Cisse had aspirations of studying in Canada, according to his brother Ba, and was often seen wearing the jersey of his favourite football team, Real Madrid. As the riots escalated, he dedicated hours on his phone in the Grand Yoff neighbourhood, using his Twitter account to denounce the partial internet shutdown imposed during the unrest. His profile became a reflection of the chaos and anger prevailing outside, and one of his last tweets, just before 6 p.m., appealed to Twitter owner Elon Musk to help restore internet connectivity in Senegal.
Shortly after, as Cisse returned from the mosque, he was shot in the shoulder only a few yards away from his home, according to Ba, Ndiaye, and two other friends. A video circulating on TikTok captures the aftermath, showing Cisse lying motionless on the ground while a man attempts to apply pressure to his upper arm. A crowd then carries him towards a hospital. Reuters observed a patch of sand at the location, seemingly stained by dried blood.
The family awaits the results of an autopsy to shed light on the circumstances surrounding Cisse’s death. While Ba and Ndiaye believe he was shot by security forces, Reuters could not independently verify this claim as the police spokesperson and local hospital did not respond to requests for comment.
Ba, who does not share his older brother’s level of political engagement, blames President Macky Sall for the unrest, accusing him of consistently sidelining political opponents. Many in Senegal feel that President Sall has failed to address poverty and support the youth effectively. ‘It is because of Sall that we are here now,’ Ba stated.
Meanwhile, Ba grapples with the void left by his brother’s untimely death. ‘We were together every day, watching all the football games together. It is impossible to forget.’
