Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed a law doubling penalties for same-sex relations to up to 10 years imprisonment
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed into law new legislation that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relations, raising the maximum prison term to 10 years amid a broader crackdown on the country’s gay community.
The law, signed on Monday and published in the official journal the following day, was passed by an overwhelming majority in the National Assembly. It expands existing provisions by introducing harsher punishments not only for same-sex relations but also for individuals found guilty of promoting or financing such relationships.
Under the new legislation, so-called “acts against nature”—a term used to describe same-sex relations—are now punishable by five to 10 years in prison, compared to the previous one to five years. Those accused of promoting or supporting same-sex relationships face prison sentences ranging from three to seven years, alongside fines of between two million and 10 million CFA francs compared to 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs previously.
The law also includes provisions penalising individuals who falsely accuse others of same-sex offences without proof. Maximum sentences are expected to apply in cases involving minors.
The move has drawn international concern, with UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk describing the legislation as “deeply worrying” and warning that it runs counter to fundamental human rights principles.
In recent months, enforcement of anti-LGBTQ laws has intensified. Media reports indicate that dozens of men have been arrested since February, including a group of 12 individuals—among them two local celebrities—detained at the start of what has become a wave of arrests. Many detentions have reportedly been based on accusations and phone searches, with identities of those arrested often made public.
The legislation reflects growing domestic pressure on LGBTQ issues in Senegal, where advocacy for gay rights is frequently criticised as the imposition of foreign values. Religious groups in the predominantly Muslim country have staged protests calling for stricter penalties.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, who previously pledged to criminalise same-sex relations more severely, presented the bill to parliament. While the new law increases penalties, it maintains the classification of same-sex relations as a misdemeanour.
The development marks a significant tightening of legal restrictions in Senegal and underscores the deepening divide between domestic policy and international human rights advocacy.
