Senegal Increases Jail Terms for Same-Sex Activity to 10 Years

Senegal’s parliament approved legislation Wednesday that doubles the maximum prison sentence for same-sex sexual activity to 10 years and criminalizes promotion or financing of LGBTQ+ activities, reinforcing West Africa’s trend of tightening anti-LGBTQ+ laws.

The National Assembly passed the bill by 135 votes to zero, with three abstentions. The measure, which now awaits President Bassirou Diomaye Faye’s signature, fulfills a key campaign pledge of the government formed in 2024 under Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko.

Senegal’s existing penal code, last revised in 1966, prescribed up to five years in prison and fines up to 1.5 million CFA francs ($2,700) for “acts against nature.” The new legislation doubles the maximum term and allows fines of up to 10 million CFA francs. Judges are barred from suspending sentences or reducing terms below the minimum.

The law explicitly covers homosexual and bisexual activity, transsexuality, as well as zoophilia and necrophilia, and extends penalties to those found promoting or financing such acts.

Supporters of the measure, including religious groups and lawmakers from the ruling Pastef party, organized demonstrations in Dakar in the weeks preceding the vote, displaying signs opposing homosexuality.

Human rights groups have documented an increase in arrests of men suspected of “acts against nature” and, in some cases, alleged transmission of HIV, which carries a 10-year maximum prison term. Between Feb. 9 and 24, 27 men were detained, according to the International Federation for Human Rights.

Neighboring countries have also tightened restrictions. Burkina Faso criminalized same-sex relations last year with penalties of up to five years, while Ghanaian legislators are considering increasing maximum sentences and imposing penalties for the “wilful promotion” of LGBTQ+ activity.