Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye signs new law increasing penalties for same-sex relations, sparking global human rights concerns.
Senegalese President Diomaye Faye has signed into law a controversial bill that significantly increases penalties for same-sex relations, tightening restrictions on LGBTQ activities in the West African nation.
The new legislation, signed on Monday and published in the official gazette on Tuesday, raises the maximum prison sentence for “acts against nature,” a term used to describe same-sex relations, from five years to 10 years imprisonment.
The bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the National Assembly, also introduces tougher penalties for individuals accused of promoting or financing same-sex relationships.
Under the revised law, those found guilty of promoting or financing such relationships now face three to seven years in prison, alongside increased fines ranging from two million to 10 million CFA francs ($3,500 to $17,600).
Lawmakers approved the legislation by 135 votes in favour, with no opposition and three abstentions during a parliamentary session held on March 11.
The law further stipulates that the maximum sentence will apply where the offence involves a minor, while it also criminalises false accusations of same-sex offences made “without proof.”
Human rights organisations and UN agencies have strongly criticised the move.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, described the legislation as “deeply worrying,” warning that it “flies in the face of sacrosanct human rights.”
Similarly, UNAIDS expressed concern that increased criminalisation could discourage affected individuals from accessing essential health services, including HIV prevention and treatment.
LGBTQ rights group ILGA World also urged President Faye not to sign the bill, calling for respect for “individual liberty and the human person.”
The development comes amid rising enforcement actions, with reports indicating dozens of arrests since February. Police operations have reportedly included detentions based on accusations and phone searches, with names of suspects often made public.
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LGBTQ issues remain highly sensitive in Senegal, a Muslim-majority nation where advocacy for gay rights is frequently condemned as a foreign cultural imposition. Religious groups have also staged demonstrations calling for stricter penalties.
Before becoming prime minister in 2024, Ousmane Sonko had pledged to strengthen laws against same-sex relations, a stance that has shaped the current legislative direction.
Across Africa, at least 32 countries maintain laws criminalising same-sex relations, with penalties ranging from imprisonment to the death sentence in countries such as Uganda, Mauritania, and Somalia.
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