The trial of the case involving the death of student Fallou SENE in 2018 took place at the military tribunal in Senegal. Gendarme Serigne Moustapha SANE, who was a sous-lieutenant at the time, faced charges of voluntary manslaughter. SANE acknowledged that he fired his weapon at the students during a confrontation at the Université Gaston BERGER (UGB) in Saint-Louis. According to reports from Seneweb, the trial heard evidence from an autopsy and a confrontation.
During the trial, SANE defended his actions, stating that he was part of an official law enforcement mission and fired his weapon to protect his superior, Abdou DIOP, and other gendarmes who were being maltreated and injured by the students. He claimed to have fired three warning shots and a fourth shot aimed at the lower limbs of the protesters. However, the prosecution noted that SANE had a 9mm automatic pistol but used an M16 rifle instead.
Commandant Abdou DIOP, who led the operation, testified that SANE fired his weapon to protect their men and disperse the crowd. DIOP mentioned the injuries sustained by some gendarmes, including Pape Matar DIOP. Two members of the Saint-Louis Student Coordination, including the former president, were also called to testify. Their statements did not corroborate SANE's account, saying they had asked students to stop throwing stones to allow the gendarmes to regain their position.
The lawyers representing the family of Fallou SENE and the Saint-Louis Student Coordination requested damages. Me Assane Dioma NDIAYE, the lawyer for Fallou SENE's family, demanded 200 million FCFA in damages, while the Coordination, represented by Me Amadou DIALLO, requested 50 million FCFA. The prosecution asked the court to declare SANE guilty of the charges and sentence him to one year in prison, with six months to be served.
SANE's defense lawyer, Me Moustapha DIENG, cited article 315 of the penal code and the emergency situation to argue his client's case. After the exchanges, the court postponed the verdict to November 27, following a request for calm from the defense. The trial marked a significant step in the eight-year-old case, with the outcome pending.
The incident occurred in 2018 during clashes between students and law enforcement at the UGB in Saint-Louis. Fallou SENE's death led to widespread attention and criticism of the use of force by security personnel. The trial's outcome will likely have implications for accountability and the handling of similar incidents in the future.
Key stakeholders, including the student's family, the Saint-Louis Student Coordination, and human rights groups, have been following the case closely. The verdict, when delivered, will bring closure to the case or potentially lead to further legal actions. The case has highlighted the need for thorough investigations into allegations of excessive force by security personnel.
Key points
- The trial of gendarme Serigne Moustapha SANE concluded with the verdict postponed to November 27.
- SANE acknowledged firing his weapon at students during a confrontation at the Université Gaston BERGER in Saint-Louis in 2018.
- The prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence, with six months to be served, for SANE.
