Africa10 March, 20262 min read
Senegal Parliament Doubles Prison Term to 10 Years, Criminalizes Promotion of Same-Sex Relations
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Parliament doubled maximum prison term for same-sex relations to ten years. Law criminalizes promoting or financing homosexuality.
Parliamentary approval
Senegal’s National Assembly on Wednesday passed a government-backed bill that doubles the maximum prison term for consensual same-sex relations to 10 years and criminalises the "promotion" or financing of such relationships, with the text now awaiting the signature of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye.
“Senegal’s parliament on Wednesday passed a law doubling the maximum prison term for same-sex relations to 10 years, intensifying a crackdown on the LGBTQ community.”
Multiple outlets reported the measure passed overwhelmingly — 135 votes in favour, none against, and three abstentions — and described it as intensifying a broader crackdown on LGBTQ people in the country.
Penalties and clauses
The legislation expands existing provisions that penalise so-called "acts against nature": under the new text, penalties rise from the previous one-to-five year range to between five and 10 years’ imprisonment, while fines are sharply increased and judges are barred from suspending or reducing minimum sentences.
The bill also introduces criminal sanctions specifically for promoting or financing homosexuality, with fine caps raised to as much as 10 million CFA francs.
Political framing
Lawmakers framed the bill as a government priority and part of political promises made during the 2024 campaign, and parliamentary debate featured hardline rhetoric from some deputies.
“The law, which now requires the president's signature to take effect, was a major campaign promise of President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko in 2024.”
Media reporting captured statements from MPs celebrating the move and warning of limits on expression for LGBTQ people, while observers noted the bill was a key pledge of both President Bassirou Diomaye Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.
Enforcement and arrests
Human-rights groups and media outlets documented a surge in detentions ahead of and around the bill’s passage, reporting dozens of arrests since February and specific sweeps that targeted men accused of "acts against nature", sometimes following phone searches; some reports counted as many as 27 arrests in a fortnight and noted arrests of public figures.
Rights monitors have flagged these enforcement actions as part of the same crackdown that the new law formalises.
Regional context
Observers and activists situate Senegal’s move within a regional trend of tougher anti-LGBTQ measures, citing similar legislation or proposals in other West African countries, and point to societal and religious opposition that frames LGBTQ advocacy as a foreign influence; rights groups have warned of the wider human-rights implications as penalties and criminalisation expand.
“Rights groups say the measure is part of a broader trend of stricter anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the region, following similar moves in countries including Burkina Faso and proposed legislation in Ghana.”
Activists and regional coverage described the vote as reflecting a broader push across the region toward stricter anti-LGBT laws.
