Senegalese President, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has assented into law a bill that doubles the maximum penalty for same-sex relations, making them punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
The law marks a significant tightening of existing provisions, expanding both the severity of punishments and the scope of offences tied to same-sex relationships.
The bill, passed by an overwhelming majority in Senegal’s National Assembly and amends Article 319 of the country’s Penal Code was approved by lawmakers following several hours of debate, with 135 votes in favour, none against, and three abstentions on March 11, 2026.
The updated provisions increase prison sentences for what are described as “acts against nature”, a term used to signify same-sex relations, from a previous range of one to five years to a new range of five to ten years. In addition to custodial sentences, fines have also been significantly raised, now ranging from 2 million to 10 million CFA francs, compared to the earlier threshold of 100,000 to 1.5 million CFA francs.
Beyond criminalizing same-sex relations, the law introduces penalties for those found guilty of promoting or financing such relationships, prescribing prison terms of three to seven years. It also extends liability to expressions of support, marking the first time Senegalese legislation explicitly prohibits public backing of LGBTQ identities, including homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgender expression.
It further includes provisions aimed at addressing accusations, penalising individuals who accuse others of same-sex offences without proof. At the same time, enforcement actions appear to have intensified in recent months.
According to media reports, dozens of men have been arrested since February, when police detained 12 individuals, including two local celebrities, in what marked the beginning of a series of arrests.
The law also stipulates harsher penalties in cases involving minors, with the maximum sentence applied where such circumstances are established.
The passage and enactment of the legislation fulfil a campaign commitment by the administration elected in 2024 under President Faye and Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, reflecting a broader political and social stance on the issue.
In recent years, LGBTQ-related issues have generated sustained controversy in Senegal, a Muslim-majority West African country where advocacy for gay rights is frequently criticized as an imposition of foreign values.
Religious associations have played a visible role in shaping the debate, organising demonstrations and calling for stricter legal measures. Among those advocating for tougher legislation is Imam Babacar Sylla, who urged swift approval of the bill, arguing that delays in enforcement would complicate efforts to address what he described as a “societal threat.”
At the same time, United Nations Human Rights Chief Volker Türk had urged Senegal to reconsider the harmful new anti-LGBTQ law.
“It flies in the face of the sacrosanct human rights we all enjoy: the rights to respect, dignity, privacy, equality and freedoms of expression, association, and peaceful assembly. These rights are enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as human rights treaties that Senegal is party to. This law exposes people to hate crimes, abuse, arbitrary arrests, blackmail and widespread discrimination in education, health, employment and housing. “
Volker Türk
New Law Raises Concerns Over Civil Rights and Liberties
Human rights organisations have pointed to the inclusion of “promotion” as a particularly consequential aspect of the law, noting that it effectively restricts public discussion and advocacy related to LGBTQ issues.
According to the Executive Director of Outright International, Maria Sjödin, Senegal’s new law is not an isolated act.
“It is part of a dangerous global trend of governments weaponizing legislation against LGBTQ people and those who support them. The criminalization of ‘promotion’ is not a safeguard; it is a gag order that cuts people off from information, threatens public health, and silences civil society. History shows that when governments begin by targeting a minority, they rarely stop there. The tools built to erase LGBTQ people are the tools of democratic erosion.”
Maria Sjödin
Reports of arrests based on accusations and phone searches suggest an expansion of surveillance and evidentiary practices, while the public disclosure of detainees’ identities raises additional issues related to privacy and social stigma.
Support for the law, however, has been reinforced by religious and civil society networks such as And Samm Jikko Yi, which have long advocated for measures aimed at preserving what they describe as Senegalese moral values. Their influence has contributed to sustained pressure for stricter legal controls, culminating in the passage of the current legislation.
Senegal joins countries like Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Somalia, Uganda, and Mauritania that have imposed harsh anti-LGBTQ penalties.
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