# Senegal Signs Law Doubling Prison Terms for Same-Sex Relations to 10 Years
**Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye has signed into law legislation that doubles the maximum penalty for same-sex relations to 10 years in prison, in what human rights groups are calling a devastating blow to the country’s LGBTQ community and a step backwards for civil liberties in West Africa.**
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The law, signed by President Faye on Monday and published in the official journal on Tuesday, was passed by Senegal’s National Assembly on March 11 by an overwhelming vote of 135 in favour, zero opposed, and three abstentions. It represents a dramatic escalation in the criminalisation of LGBTQ people in the predominantly Muslim West African nation.
Under the new legislation, same-sex relations — referred to in the law as “acts against nature” — are now punishable by imprisonment of five to 10 years, compared with one to five years previously. The law also introduces prison terms of three to seven years for those found guilty of promoting, financing, or supporting same-sex relationships.
Additionally, the legislation penalises anyone who accuses another person of same-sex offences “without proof” — a provision critics say could be weaponised to silence victims of false accusations. The maximum sentence applies when the alleged act involves a minor. Fines have been set at between two million and 10 million CFA francs (3,500 to 17,600 USD).
## A Crackdown in Progress
The law arrives amid an intensifying crackdown on LGBTQ people in Senegal. Since February 2026, dozens of men have been arrested under existing anti-sodomy laws. Police detentions have frequently been based on accusations alone, and in many cases, the names of those arrested have been published in local media — exposing them to further persecution.
The arrests have been criticised by human rights organisations as part of a broader climate of witch-hunt against a vulnerable minority. Phone searches and social media surveillance have become routine tools for identifying suspects, raising concerns about privacy violations extending far beyond the LGBTQ community.
## International Condemnation
The international response has been swift and scathing. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk described the law as “deeply worrying” and said it “flies in the face of the sacrosanct human rights” that Senegal has historically championed. ILGA World, the global LGBTQ rights federation, urged President Faye not to sign the bill, calling on him to uphold “respect for individual liberty and the human person.”
Western governments and international human rights bodies have expressed alarm at what they see as a systematic rollback of civil liberties in Senegal — a country often praised for its democratic governance and relative stability in a turbulent region.
## Domestic Politics and the Religious Factor
The law’s passage reflects the intense political dynamics surrounding LGBTQ issues in Senegal. Ousmane Sonko, who became Prime Minister in 2024 and is widely regarded as one of Senegal’s most influential political figures, had campaigned on promises to criminalise same-sex relations more severely. Sonko himself presented the bill to parliament, even as he maintained that same-sex relations would remain classified as a misdemeanour — a distinction the new law preserves while dramatically raising the penalty.
Religious associations in Senegal, where Islam is the dominant faith, have staged demonstrations demanding ever-tougher penalties. Gay rights advocacy is frequently characterised in public discourse as a foreign, Western imposition — a narrative that has made it politically toxic for mainstream politicians to defend LGBTQ rights.
## A Regional Trend
Senegal’s law places it among the most punitive countries in Africa regarding LGBTQ rights. Same-sex relations are criminalised in more than 30 African nations, and in several — including Sudan, Nigeria, and Uganda — penalties range from lengthy prison terms to, in some cases, the death penalty. Human rights advocates warn that Senegal’s move could encourage further criminalisation elsewhere on the continent.
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*This article was compiled from reports by France 24, Reuters, and BBC.*