Student shot dead by police during demonstration

A student was shot dead during a demonstration at the University of Toamasina in Madagascar that degenerated into a confrontation with police, as protests against the non-payment of study grants took place at several universities in the country.

The unidentified student died in hospital after police used live bullets while confronting about 200 demonstrators who were throwing stones and committing acts of vandalism at the university, which is situated on the east coast, reported Radio France Internationale, or RFI.

Another student was injured and detained in hospital.

Colonel Josh Rabemanantsoa, commander of the national gendarmerie, said the police action was legitimate defence, and that an inquiry had been opened within the force to determine responsibility.

Five students were arrested after the demonstration and released later, RFI reported the town’s prosecutor, Thierry Lauret, as saying.

The principal cause of the students’ protest was the non-payment of their grants for the past four months.

The university’s president, Zafitody Conscient, told RFI the grants had not been paid because enrolments had not yet closed.

But he confirmed that he had received a transfer of funds in July 2020, and said the schedule of grant payments was being published and the first month’s payment would be made from 25 February.

A fire broke out in the administrative offices of the university’s Barikadimy campus the night following the demonstration, with furniture, exam papers and other university documents “reduced to ashes”, reported L’Express.

Furniture, computers, printers and other items were stolen during the confusion, said L’Express, and an investigation was under way to determine the cause.

But, according to town official Jean-Christian Rakotovao, students had started the fire deliberately, reported RFI.

A march demanding justice for the dead student and his family was organised by students on Tuesday 23 February, reported L’Express.

Other institutions where students demonstrated demanding their grant arrears included Fianarantsoa, and the capital’s Ankatso Antananarivo University as well as École Polytechnique Vontovorona, where a student was arrested.— Compiled by Jane Marshall.

This article is drawn from local media. University World News cannot vouch for the accuracy of the original reports.